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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Duck's Vacation, written and illustrated by Gilad Soffer. Translation from Hebrew by Rena Rossner and Ilana Kurshan. Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2015. $20.50 ages 3 and up

"So you turned the page
anyway!?

Look, when I'm on vacation,
I want to stay on the same page.
To relax in my chair.
To enjoy the beauty of nature.

See? Look at the lovely bird....
Great.
Just great."

Duck is well prepared for his vacation. Sunglasses? Check! Beach chair? Check. Beach ball? Check. Snorkel? Check. Ice cream cone? Check. A tropical drink? Check. And a sandy beach - it's all he could possibly need.

Suddenly, his sunglasses and ice cream cone are sailing across the page. Duck is indignant. Who is turning pages in his book? What, you????

With each turn of the page, Duck has something to say. Growing ever more indignant, he is not averse to letting the audience know his true feelings about the state of his day. He doesn't want to be bothered, and he is quick to suggest that no more pages be turned.

Who's going to follow those instructions? That is when the action ramps up, and readers come to realize that Duck has good reason for being alone. First, a bird poops on his head, then a crab  nabs his foot, and then people on the beach! What is happening?

Just when he thinks it cannot possibly be worse, he learns that it can. Poor Duck!

A terrific surprise ending will have listeners begging to hear it 'just one more time, please!'

The illustrations are bright and engaging, the story meant to be shared and the format perfect for a young audience!                                                                   

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