Farmer Duck - Martin Waddell

Farmer Duck A favourite book of mine, and one which I have read on many occasions to young children. Published in 1991,the story focuses on the hero of the story, the duck, and a lazy farmer, and on how the other animals on the farm help duck when he is too tired to keep doing all of the work. **The story and illustrations** The story starts by introducing us to a duck who lives with a very lazy farmer, and while the farer stays in bed all day, the duck does all of the work. Indeed, the very first double spread illustration shows a very tired looking duck carrying a tray laden with food to the farmer who is lying in be eating ...  Read the complete review

Farmer Duck is the story of a hard working duck who is left to run the farm by himself when the farmer just stays in bed all day, without a word of thanks to the duck. This goes on until the other animals decide enough is enough and decide to revolt against the farmer. The illustrations by Helen Oxenbury in this book are lovely. The story is imaginative and contains a subtle message for the children that read it. I have read this book to children from 4-7: the recommended age really. They all loved it, especially since the use of repetition encourages them to join in. ...  Read the complete review

As you can probably tell from some of my other reviews, my grandson isn't one to say no to a bedtime story about a duck or two. This one was a book that I spotted while out grabbing some bits and it was only £1.99 so I thought that was a great price for a new children's book all about a duck. This story is all about Farmer Duck and how he is left to do all the work on the farm while the fat lazy farmer lays in bed all day eating chocolates. He shouts out the window every few minutes "How goes the work?" and the duck always replies "Quack!" which is a nice touch because you can do a duck noise and it makes the story funny for the ...  Read the complete review

Why do we work? If there were no driving force would we still work? If a slave’s master vanished would that slave continue to labour? These and many more are examples of questions that may spring into your mine if you read your child, “Farmer Duck”. This story is written by Martin Waddell and the book illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. ISBN 0-7445-3660-x Before I tell you the story, (believe me that won’t take long) let me quote from the back cover: Winner of the Smarties Book Prize British Books Award Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year Highly Commended for the Kate Greenway Medal ...  Read the complete review

Quack, moo, baa, cluck this is the tale of a nameless Duck who has the misfortune to be in the employ of a very lazy farmer. A farmer with hairy shoulders and a jelly belly, who is repeatedly featured shirtless throughout the story. Its not pretty and its not necessary either. Loose a star for including the sort of detail thats irrelevant to children and isn't beneficial to the story in any way. The images are rather grey and bleak throughout turning an uplifting story of friendship and co-operation to overthrow a common enemy into something much more dark and grey. The imagery used is in places very aggresive and my youngest found this book too scary for ...  Read the complete review