Great watercolor work can be so understated in children's literature, not in this book. The design work makes absolutely wonderful use of letting these spectacular watercolor illustrations really tell the story, almost with the word as the backdrop just making sure you follow along. All together it is a great story with a couple of wonderful characters that are made even more entertaining by the incredibly expressive illustration. 

This lazy farmer has a duck that he makes do all the work. All the while he lays in bed and eats candy. The duck does the milking, feeding of the other animals, plowing, and all of the other chores including wait on the farmer. The cows, chickens,& pigs decide enough is enough. So they creep into the house late at night and throw the farmer out of bed. They chase him all the way off of the farmer. The next day all the animals work together to tend to the farm.

I grew up on a farm and I know how much work that it takes to get everything done. I wish I had animals who could help out. It would have been nice to not have to clean up after them or feed them. Oh the joys of fantasy.

I would sing "Old Mcdonald had a Farm" after reading this book. It is a fun activity and the kids would enjoy it. I would also talk about what all you have to do to take care of a farm. This will get the kids to do some brainstorming.

Farmer duck slaves away on a farm while the farmer does nothing. The other farm animals rebel, saving the duck and forcing the farmer to work. ( )

When a kind and hard working duck nearly collapses from overwork, while taking care of a farm because the owner is too lazy to do so, the rest of the animals get together and chase the farmer out of town.

The illustrations in this book go nicely from gray and gloomy when the duck is being oppressed to bright and sunny when the lazy farmer gets what-for.

There are some logical inconsistencies in the story, but if you're reading this to young kids you can rest assured that they (probably) won't notice. ( )