A Duck Dafter than Daffy (Fix-it Duck - J. Alborough)

Member Name: Emmamac1

Product:	Fix-it Duck - J. Alborough
Date:	25/09/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It makes you laugh, rhyming skills

Disadvantages: none

Fix it Duck is a pest, a nuisance and always makes the problem twice as bad, but he is also endearing and 'only trying to help'. He is a character that you actually want to shout "STOP" at, just to prevent anything else going wrong.

The book starts with Fix it Duck in the bath, having a nice soak with his rubber duck. For all eyes to see he has left the tap on. Outside the window you can see frog coming up to Duck's house. In the next scene, Duck has left the bath, with the tap still on, with Frogs face looking through the window, seeing the problem. Whilst downstairs, having a cuppa, Duck has a drip of water in his tea, outside you can see Frog climbing down the drainpipe.

"A leak in the roof. Oh, what bad luck! This is a job for....... FIX IT DUCK."

From here the story evolves, and as Duck tries to solve one problem he makes many more. Equipped with his tool box, Duck decides he is capable of repairing the leaking roof, completely unaware that the problem is the tap he left on! He needs to borrow a ladder, from poor old Sheep, who is quite innocently relaxing in his caravan. Life will never be the same again. Tyres punctured, windows smashed, a runaway caravan, and an almost drowned sheep, all because of Fix it Duck and his perseverance to help.

Fix it Duck is a delightful children's picture book. It is a fun and nerve wracking read for children, as they witness the problems getting bigger and bigger. Duck is certainly a very likable character, but you also just want to ring his neck at times (foie gras?).

It is obvious in the book that Duck is only trying to be helpful. It is interesting to listen to children's ideas, and to see why they think Duck has got it so wrong. Being helpful is a positive asset, which should be encouraged. The children whom I have read the book to have suggested that Duck should stop and listen to others (like Sheep) and think more. Now, they are great suggestions, I just need my children to apply them to their own situations!

Fix it Duck is written by Jez Alborough and is mainly suited for 2 to 7 years old. It follows Duck in a Truck, and precedes Captain Duck. The same characters appear in each book, havoc causing Duck, poor old Sheep, wise Goat and loyal Frog. Alborough has written the whole book in rhyming text, so the story actually flows when reading. My boys often join in with the story, following the rhymes and completing the sentences. It's great when they 'click' and say that sounds the same as that! It is extremely well written and keeps my little listeners fully entertained and focused.

Jez Alborough also illustrated the book. Before we actually get to the first page there are a couple of pages with just illustrations. This is where you see Duck in the bath and the tap on. So if you skim these pages, the main point to the story is lost. The actual pictures have a slight cartoon effect, are almost in strips, and are full of bright colours. There is not a dull page in the book. The animals have plenty of expressions, which my boys are great at interpreting. Poor old Frog continuously has a look of complete despair.

Alborough has very cleverly drawn the problems before they happen. In one incident, the tyre goes over a nail, which Duck has dropped four pages before. It is great to go back and identify the cause of the problem, and unfortunately each time it is Duck. The illustrations are very engaging as well as amusing.

We certainly enjoy this book in our house. Fix it Duck is silly and fun. It is an entertaining read as well as wonderfully written. It is full of action, caused by one daffy duck, which always brings lots of chuckles from all of us.



Fix It Duck is published by Collins.
ISBN 0-00-710624-6

Summary: A cool kids picture book