I Wish That I Had Duck Feet

First sentence:
I wish
that I had duck feet.
And I can tell you why.
You can splash around in duck feet.
You don't have to keep them dry.

Premise/plot: A young boy imagines what it would be like to have duck feet, antlers, a whale spout, a tiger tail, and an elephant trunk. He imagines first WHY it would be GREAT. But the more he thinks it out, the more he comes to see the potential problems. Yes, duck feet and a whale spout would be great, but, would his mother like either one on her son?! NO! By the end, the boy concludes that it's great to be himself.

My thoughts: I really love this one. I have always loved this one. The storytelling is just fun. Though I didn't realize as a kid that Big Bill might just be a bully bothering the young show more hero.

Have you read I Wish That I Had Duck Feet? Did you like it? Did you love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it! show less

One of my childhood favorites. This book was one of the few that my grandfather kept lying around for whatever grandchild happened to wander through. And I loved it. We’ve all imagined having amazing capabilities – and this little boy vividly imagines the wonderful things that would happen if he had duck feet, a whale spout or a long, long tail.
And then he just as vividly imagines the horrible things that could go wrong with each of his ideas. Very funny, very cute, and the hero ends up liking himself just as he is without anything getting terribly moralizing or annoying. It helps that I can still recite this from memory even after 15 years. Definite keeper.

Also posted on my blog

I liked this book! It follows a very imaginative little boy's discovery that he is fine just the way he is. He thinks about the benefits and drawbacks of having appendages like duck feet or a tail. This book stimulates the eye and imagination with its whimsical illustrations. Five stars!

This book has a great story, nicely written in simple rhyme. It encourages imagination by suggesting some interesting situations (what if I had duck feet?).

My problem with this book - one I can't really get over - is the illustrations. They're just so 50s. I guess in one way if it isn't broken don't fix it and kids clearly still love the book. I find the pictures of Dad smoking a pipe, and Mum in her 50s pinny doing the vacuuming just a bit disturbing. Not to mention that the protaganist's teacher is drawn as an aging spinster waiting for apples.

There's a discussion to be had here about updating classics. If it's OK to change Dick and Fanny to Rick and Franny (which has been done to the Enid Blyton books), is it OK to slightly retouch a show more picture so that Dad's no longer a smoker? show less

What a fun story, by a master! As with all Dr. Seuss stories, there is a valuable lesson here… you’re perfect the way you are! Best testimonial? It kept my 2 year old granddaughter’s attention!

This book is fun and full of imagination. Students would find the animal part funny but would also be able to empathize with the main character when things didn't go according to plan. It highlights the importance of loving who you are and never wanting to change yourself. However, the book is long and can become a difficult read for students.

This is typical Dr. Seuss style writing. Of course, it's from that collection he wrote as Theo LeSieg since he wasn't the illustrator, but the illustrator/cartoonist Barney Tobey does a pretty good job of bringing the words to life. The book is bit longer than a typical beginning reader of today, but the rhyme scheme is consistent throughout and the word choice stays pretty simple too. All in all, I liked the book. I think it pairs well with And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Circus. Of course, that's just what I thought. The book is fun, and the pictures, despite being done by someone else, are plenty of fun as well.