Captain Duck

by Jez Alborough

New cover reissue in million copy best-selling Duck in the Truck series. 'Ahoy there, sailors!' comes a cry. 'Is this a boating trip I spy?' If there are seas to be explored, make way! CAPTAIN DUCK'S ON BOARD! As usual with Duck, things get terribly out of hand when he takes the long-suffering Frog and Sheep on a trip out to sea in Goat's boat! But although Duck likes to think of himself as an expert sailor he soon runs into problems and the friends have to spend a long, cold night out on the rolling waves.

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

40 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2002

About the author

Jez is the author and illustrator of 48 books for children. In 2018 he published The Story of 'You' his first book for adults, the first in a series called Life Beyond Personality. He says: "We enter this world as pure Oneness, (what I call our ‘original state of Being’) but we lose this as we become identified with our Personality. In that identification, the Stillness and Love of our Original State is overshadowed by the suffering of the Personality.

"Our Personality creates its own dream from the deep-seated beliefs and emotions it harbours; a dream that can be full of emotional distress, over-thinking and the constant investment in a future which never quite delivers on the belief: ‘When I get this I’ll be happy.’ The Story of ‘You’ suggests it’s possible to wake up out of that dream. When that happens, a whole new adventure begins in a life beyond the Personality."

The Infinite Journey, the second Book in the series, is published in early 2019.


Children's Books

His Eddy and the Bear trilogy (which began with the much-loved Where's My Teddy in 1992) has sold nearly four and a half million copies and was made into an BAFTA award-winning animated television series.

Duck in the Truck (published in 1999) heralded the start of another bestselling series, this time featuring the irrepressible Duck and his three friends - Frog, Goat and Sheep. There are currently nine books in the Duck series and almost than 1.5 million copies have been sold.

In 2000 Jez created Hug - a powerful and touching book of only three words about a baby chimpanzee called Bobo who loses his Mom. Oprah Winfrey raved about it on her show when she chose it for her recommended reading list while Richard Curtis (the writer and director of Four Weddings and a Funeral) selected it as one of his ‘Best Books’, calling it ‘classic family drama which holds up well next to Jez’s other masterpieces.’ Bobo went on to star in thee more classics; Tall ( which along with Hug won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award) Yes and Play. The series has sold almost 3 million copies.

Jez lives in West London. You can read more about his books for children in the JezAlborough.com library and about The Story of 'You' at LifeBeyondPersonality.com.

Jez's Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/jezalborough and you can follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jezalborough

Reviews

[Sue Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duck's truck has run out of petrol and stops for help at Goat's house, but then spots Frog and wonders where he is off to? He's off to take a boat trip with Sheep and Goat! Duck excitedly jumps abroad, but unfortunately sets sail too soon and Goat is left behind, the boat soon bobs out of control and it is left to Goat, safely ashore, to save the day!

This book is action packed, keep up... fast paced rhyme and awesome phonics!!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, fun adventure story where Duck, Frog and Sheep are meant to go on a boat trip with Goat but before Goat is ready, they're already off and the boat runs out of petrol at sea. The next morning they fortunately end up back with Goat when the tide comes in. The illustrations are bright and colourful and the book has a fast pace, helped by consistent rhyme which would be good for phonics. It isn't too long so would be great as a read aloud book for FS and KS1 to enjoy.

[Alison Brewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Duck is a story about a duck who needs gas for his truck. He has a friend who uses gas so without permission, takes it. His friend the Goat is about to go on a trip, he tells his friends that are with them, do not pull the string. Next thing you know, the duck comes and meets them and jumps into the boat and immediately pulls the string. Leaving the goal behind, the frog falls out but gets saved by a rope. The goat realizes that the duck was going to steal gas from him. On the water, the engine stops working as they reach a storm. They make it back the next day and the goat is waiting for them. The goat takes back the gas and the duck gets in his truck and drives away immediately.
I suppose the lesson was not to steal or be mischievous. Personally, I would not use this book in my classroom because it is hard to read. The layout of the writing is not ideal and would be very confusing for a reader. Not to mention, there is no explanation to why the duck ran away at the end.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Duck in the Truck is part of the Read Aloud Treasury. This installment has Duck getting in trouble as he jumps into a boat with his friends after trying to “borrow” fuel from one of them. He doesn’t listen to their warnings, though, which sends them on a crazy adventure. I like the rhyming and how the other characters support one another, but I would like to see the title character have some sort of take away from the adventure.

[Clem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhyming and funny

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Jez Alborough is one of my favorite kids authors. I like his rhymes and the pictures are good too. This story is about a duck who runs out of gas. He goes to ask to borrow some from his friend, but when his friend isn't there he just takes it without asking. Then he gets distracted and joins some friends on a boat ride. Little did he know that his friend had gone to get more gas for the boat but couldn't find it in time because duck had taken it. After an adventure with Duck "in charge of the boat" and some funny pictures to accompany the story, they make it back to shore with a boat completely out of gas (it ran out in the middle of the adventure). Anyways, I can't wait to read this to a child. The rhymes would've kept my little one interested. But a toddler would understand more of the pictures. Like when duck says, "I didn't know frog knew how to water ski!" And Sheep replies, "neither did he" and then you see frog's face. Anyways, very cute. Will definitely read again and possibly own one day.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book during a play date of Cassie's with her friend M. Both girls loved looking at the illustrations in this book but other then that didn't really enjoy the storyline. I felt it was odd that Duck was not getting trouble for stealing and causing all of the mischief on the boat. The illustrations are colorful and you can add your own text to the book if you want. This book was okay to read aloud, some parts really was easy to read aloud where other parts it was difficult to read and I stumbled along. I really had huge hopes for this book and I felt like it fell flat on it's face. I don't recommend checking this story out.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A duck invades the plans of a goat, sheep and frog to travel on their boat. Duck declares himself captain of the boat and the animals encounter many adventures along the way. I really enjoyed this book and can see how it can be used in many different ways. It can be used to discuss rhyme, awareness of actions and feelings. While for earlier years the illustrations alone open up opportunities for talk to take place.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was fun and kids should get a laugh out of Duck's antics, as well as learn a lesson about taking what's not yours and getting yourself into trouble. The words had a nice rhythem that would make this a good candidate for read-aloud. However, the way the text was broken up under the picture panels might be confusing for a child trying to learn to read or even just working on print awareness.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duck steals Goats boat and it runs out of gas. Cute pictures.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

too young but good

[Cws]

JEAR2-Alb

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, engaging rhyme on several levels...good for mixed-age groups/siblings

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny story about a duck who thinks he's a DIY expert in a boat this time.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Following up on "Duck in a Truck", the same characters are in another spot of trouble, this time in a boat. The rhyme is heavy-handed and monotonous.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when my girls pick out this book for me to read to them. Engaging, fun rhyme, and I adore the artwork, especially the page where the friends have to huddle up and spend the night in the boat.

[Kim Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goat's friends go on a raucous boat ride instigated by silly Duck. Rhyming text and big colorful illustrations will surely appeal to young children.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which Duck gets his comeuppance.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite of the Jez Alborough books I have done to date. This one just had a dime a dozen feeling to the storyline, but the illustrations really captured my interest.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text is so-so, but the illustrations are out-and-out fabulous. Unfortunately, I like my books to have strong text as well as fabulous illustrations.

[Shawnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun. It would be good for children to try their predicting skills.

[hissi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that duck!

[Monica Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another troublesome duck a la the one from Doreen Cronin's books. Cute.