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	My Just Ducky Reviews
		Kathy Mallat honored for Just Ducky
	April 10, 2003 Kathy Mallat honored for Just Ducky, a 2002 Lupine Honor Book. See the Ceremony Photos
Chicago Public Schools 2003 First Grade Recommended Reading List Fiction: Just Ducky See the list			2004 Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award Nominee A lonely little duck looks into the water and finally finds someone to play with. The Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award is awarded by the Children’s Services Round Table of the Missouri Library Association. This award is designed to encourage reading aloud to children from birth through kindergarten age.
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"A perfect read-aloud selection... a charmer." Kirkus Reviews
		Just Ducky written and illustrated by Kathy Mallat 2002 Walker & Company Tr $15.95 ISBN 0-8027-8824-6 RTE $16.85 ISBN 0-8027-8825-4
Ducky wants to enjoy the beautiful day but he can't find a friend who has time to play. After searching and searching he finds someone who is ready to have some just ducky fun. Young readers will delight in figuring out what's really happening in this lyrical story sure to leave them smiling.
A Personal Note I had never envisioned Just Ducky to be a book written in rhyme. Imagine my surprise, then, when the text unfolded as such. Despite my attempts to rewrite it in story form, the rhyme kept coming through, and eventually won out.
From bird		to duck		to finished Ducky
When I showed the first dummy to my agent, Bruce McMillan, he loved it. He thought it was a great duck story, but wondered why my illustrations lacked any duck images. Oops! He was right. There on the pages were the drawings of a bird - complete with a tiny, pointed beak, long, thin legs, and non-webbed feet. I had been so excited about the story idea that I had obviously not done my research. So, back to the drawing board I went.
Ducky sketch			Ducky finished art
Ducky play sketch			Ducky play finished art
"I love this book." Bruce McMillan
Publishers Weekly On-target humor and sunny illustrations make this a pleasant choice. After many unsuccessful attempts, Ducky finally finds a companion-or so he thinks in this sweet tale of first friendship. Mallat's (Brave Bear) full-bleed mixed-media spreads burst with springtime green, sky blue and buttercup yellow, as the hero moves through a pondside flowerbed in pursuit of playmates... The simple story's uplifting ending (with its subtle moral that sometimes one's own company is best of all), on-target humor and sunny illustrations make this a pleasant choice for the preschool audience. Ages 2-5. (Aug.)
Publishers Weekly magazine web site
Booklist A delightful read-aloud for preschool storytime. Young children will be drawn to this sunny picture book with a lively rhyming text. Double-paged spreads filled with bright, cheerful colors and detailed renderings of pond plant and animal life make a lively backdrop for Ducky's silly animated antics as he splish-splashes with his reflection. A delightful read-aloud for preschool storytime.
Booklist magazine web site
Book Links Children will be delighted. This charming story of a lonely little duck seeking a friend is told in spare rhyming couplets with lively mixed-media illustrations employing permanent markers, colored pencils, oil pastels, and acrylics. Children will be delighted when Ducky finds a friend who is "just ducky" in his reflection in the water.
Book Links magazine web site
Kirkus Reviews A perfect read-aloud selection. Ducky searches high and low for a friend who can play, but discovers that the best friend he can have is literally right under his nose. A beautiful day is made for sharing, and Ducky tries to get Bee to play with him - "but Bee is too busy bizz-buzzing away." Mouse is too busy finding seeds and Frog is too busy hopping about the pond. Dejected, Ducky glides into the water and floats along until he spots another Duck floating right in front of him. Not realizing that it's just his reflection, Ducky encourages the "other duck" to copy his many tricks. From floating on their backs, to blowing bubbles, Ducky's new friend seems to have no trouble keeping up. At the end of the day, Ducky leaves his pal to return to his mother. He hints that maybe he does know the truth about his playmate when he states, Mama, being just Ducky was just ducky fun." Simple illustrations rendered in a combination of markers, colored pencils, oil pastels, and acrylic paint feature this bright yellow duckling playing in his impossibly blue pond. The rhythmic verse and repetitive phrases make this a perfect read-aloud selection for encouraging young children to use their imagination and creativity. A charmer. (Picture book. 2-5) July 15, 2002, page 72
Kirkus Reviews magazine web site
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