Goodnight, My Duckling

by Nancy Tafuri

Book Overview

A mother duck leads her ducklings home, one dawdles and is left behind but,luckily a friend is there to help the little duckling back to his nest in time for bed. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Board book
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439796601
• ISBN13: 9780439796606
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Length: 24 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 5.0"
• Age Range: 2 to 5 years

Customer Reviews

Favorite Nighttime Book

My daughter loves this book. She points to all the animals that the duckling passes on the way to her nest and she loves to point to the turtle hiding on the first couple of pages also. It is a nice, warm and happy book to read to your little ones before bed.

A Comforting Story for Ducks and Kids

Nancy Tafuri's reassuring mother duck is the heart of this sweet and gentle book for infants and toddlers. Mama duck surrounded All her little ducklings surround her as they being their short pond journey, save for one stray duckling about whom the story revolves. In the first two scenes, the mom gazes at them and at the us with the same reassuring pose, her head bent to the right crossing her body, and her beak suggesting a friendly smile. Her large tawny and white feathers contrast with the downy backs of the chicks, their golden undersides skimming the turquoise pond. One very curious duck temporarily threatens the tranquility of this setting. She (or it could be a he) is distracted by the other pond inhabitants, including a turtle whom we see only in the distance on the first page. This seeminly unimportant turtle stays in the background while the increasingly straggling duck views a green dragonfly, a long-billed bird, a porcupine, and a frog. These animals arrive unexpectedly on each page; it's like an amusement park train ride where every bend brings a surprise. Tafuri draws tantalizing close-ups and blue-wash backgrounds, and her over/under the water picture showing the marshy pond in the background, and an underwater view of the duck's legs, a fish, a snail, and a lily pad in the foreground is a visual delight. (The blue washes of the pond are especially beautiful.) As night approaches, the duck finds herself alone on the pond, except for that same turtle and one bat flying into the shadows. Even the lost-duck-at-night scenario has a casual air to it: Our little duck is only mildly upset, and the turtle soon rescues her. Things seem a bit too sedate when the bird shows no emotion when on the back of the turtle, who leads her back to her mother and siblings. However, it is calm that rules the day (and this book), and as little duck reunites with her family, the mother strikes her familiar protective profile. A lovely going- to-bed book, Mother duck bids us all good night with "I love you, my duckling," while the constant turtle sleeps silently on a nearby rock, head and legs withdrawn inside a cozy mosaic-like blue and gold shell. This is one of those simple but well-told stories that nicely accompany a child's goodnight rhythms.

great for little nature loves

Bedtime is near for all of Mama Ducks little ducklings. She rounds them up and tries to lead them all home. One little duck lags behind and starts to say goodnight to his animal friends on the pond. Before long he finds himself alone. Everyone seems to have gone home for the night. A wise turtle has been watching the duck on the adventure and gives him a ride on his back all the way home. The story is wonderful and heartwarming and the artwork is wonderful- many animals in their natural setting. Yes We feel like the book would make a great bedtime book for kids of all ages