Webster J. Duck

by Martin Waddell, David Parkins (Illustrator)

A search for love and reassurance—from master storyteller Martin Waddell.

When little Webster J. Duck cracks open his egg, he’s all alone. "Where’s my mother?" Webster wonders, and sets off to find her. Though he meets some waggly, woolly, very friendly animals along the way, his mother is nowhere to be seen. It looks as if Webster is all alone-until his new friends lend a helping hand. With delightful illustrations by David Parkins, master storyteller Martin Waddell celebrates the wonderful feeling of being found by someone you love.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Birds

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2001

About the author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_W...

Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton

Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.

Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure when this book came home to us, but it made its way to the top shelf of the cabinet in our ducky bathroom years ago and remained there forgotten until a recent reorganization of linens uncovered it.

That, plus our grandson's fascination with ducks, brought it out once again. We read it twice yesterday and he loved it.

It is a simple tale about a seemingly abandoned duck egg which cracks open. Instinctively little duck knows to go looking for his mama. Similar to Are You My Mother?, by P.D. Eastman, Webster J. Duck in this case goes looking for his mother but his only means of communication is "Quack, Quack" and the dog, sheep and cow he encounters answer in their appropriate lingo which gets everyone nowhere. Eventually Webster's mother hears him and answers in his language and they recognize each other. Joy!

The pictures are colorful and attractive. It was fun to read and both generations enjoyed it! I am so glad that I kept and found it! Webster J. Duck has resumed pride of place on the active bookshelves.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book! It is a sweet story of a freshly hatched duckling who goes in search of his mom duck. So sweet! Beautiful illustrations throughout. Great read-aloud. Highly recommended fro Grades K-2.

[Kimberly]

1-2 sentences per page. A story about a duck being born and looking for his mom and meeting animals along the way and knowing they did not quack like a duck so they were not his mom. Soft illustrations.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very reminiscent of P. D. Eastsman's book, are you my mother.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Webster J. Duck searches for his mother after he hatches.

The range of emotions shown the duckling are somewhat unique for a children's book. The main character shows both fear and loneliness.

[Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

The duck is precious (as drawn), and I like that he starts off in a very calm, I'll-handle-this, logical fashion that includes some self-knowledge. While he expects his mother to sound like him (arguably a strike against diversity), he also recognizes all the other animals as ducks of different shapes and sizes, so...I'm going to call it good. Kind of a dumb/abrupt ending, particularly as the other ducks are just forgotten (by Webster J. Duck, not the illustrator).

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 52411 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.0 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, RV

This is a nice book with wonderful pictures. Webster hatches only to find that his mother is not there. He looks for his mother but finds a dog, sheep and a cow, which help him to find his mother.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was adorable. I loved the illustrations because Webster J. Duck is so fuzzy looking and adorable. I wanted to hug him. He has such a definitive name, its cute. I was sad that he cried, but it had a happy ending, so that's good. ^_^

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: good illustrations, animals sounds, repetition
Cons: abrupt, almost unfinished feeling ending

[Robandsuzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love this one! We read it all the time!

[Little Champs]

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