One Duck Stuck

A duck becomes stuck in the marsh in this jaunty rhythmic counting book from author Phyllis Root and illustrator Jane Chapman. Appealing for help, our anatine hero is approached by a series of other animals, from two little fish to ten dragonflies, each of which attempts and fails to extract him from the icky sticky muck. It takes everyone working together to get this little duck free...

Pairing a fun read-aloud text with a rollicking rhythm and excellent use of repetition, with bright, colorful illustrations that capture the sense of silly humor in the text, One Duck Stuck would make an excellent story-time selection for the younger picture book crowd. Phyllis Root is a Minnesota author, and she mentions in the rear dust-jacket blurb show more that all of the animals included in the book are to be found in her home state's wetlands, so this would also make a good local interest title, for residents of the North Star state. show less

It leaves me cold. The rhyme is fun, the vocabulary words are excellent, the pictures are bright and clear... but the plot makes no sense. How did the moose not succeed the first time? What was the cause of the success at the end? I think most children would be like my inner child, wanting to see actual attempts to get the duck out and the technique for the actual success.

This book is a great counting book for kids. On each page the duck is stuck in the muck and different amounts of animals come to help him. But, no one can help him until all the animals work together to help him out. I also love how all of the pages rhyme in the story.

A lovely little book that mixes counting with a jaunty rhyme scheme. This is another book I always have on my classroom shelf because my students find it both hilariously entertaining, and a helpful way to remember their number sense. I love to bring this book out at the point in the school year where we are learning about counting, and I have to say that this book really helps.

I really liked this book. Some of the other counting and concept books didn't have any real plot or conflict. No story. I like that this book gave context and meaning to the numbers. Yes there is counting and repetition, but this story also has rhythms and is more enjoyable.

1 duck stuck in the muck.....all the animals of the marsh come by to Help! Help! Who can help! 2 fish...tails go splish, etc. in the end everyone helps our duck to pull itself free and fly away. Little ones will love to chant along with the story: together, we can do it-- similar to the enourmous turnip --- always fresh-- Root is a master of language and fun. recommended for storytime and outreach to large groups. always a winner.

A very fun and well illustrated book about counting and helping each other out. Duck gets stuck int he muck and each type of animal (each group getting larger up to ten) tries to help, but to no avail. But when ALL of the animals try to help, it works and Duck is freed. A good message and a great counting book. It is also very repetitive, each verse is the same, with only the animals' name replaced . This book has many uses in an elementary classroom and would probably be a great conversation starter when discussing helping and working together.