Lucky Duck

by Greg Pizzoli

From Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli comes a hilarious picture book about a duck who learns just how lucky she is.

Susan the duck has the worst luck. Her rollerskates are two sizes too big. She's lost her favorite marble. And she's run out of pickles. 
But with each unfortunate discovery, Wolf shows up with a gift she's won. Her luck has turned around . . . hasn't it? Come see just how lucky Susan is, in this slyly funny story about finding luck when you least expect it.

Geisel Award-winning creator Greg Pizzoli delivers another rib-tickling picturebook that will have kids howling with laughter.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Humor, Storytime, Food, Childrens, Wolves

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Greg Pizzoli is the author and illustrator of The Watermelon Seed, winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, Number One Sam, Templeton Gets His Wish, Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, and coming in April 2016, Good Night Owl. He lives in Philadelphia.

Reviews

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story to make the reader wonder what is really bad luck and what is really good luck. Also beware of wolves bearing gifts.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book about the twists and turns of luck. Readers will appreciate the ending!

[Marc Pagliuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan almost ducked it up.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made a fun read aloud. I very much echos Willems’ THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. My Kindergarteners enjoyed it.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my taste, the book ends rather abruptly. But I suspect the kids will love it. And they will pick up the lesson that lucky is made, not happens and that attitude matters. Recommended for storytimes.

[Penny Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story with a great underlying message.... The illustrations are also adorable and fun! This would make a great read aloud.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Susan the duck feels unlucky until a wolf appears and informs her that she has won multiple “prizes.”

Susan’s day gets off to a bad start when her online order turns out to be the wrong size, but then a wolf knocks on her door and informs her that she has won a prize, which makes her feel lucky. Multiple times throughout the day, something mildly unfortunate happens, making Susan feel unlucky, and then the wolf reappears with a prize, which makes her feel lucky.

The wolf returns for the last time and reveals that the final prize is “duck soup,” and Susan suddenly realizes that the prize soup pot and soup ingredients were a trick to make her dinner for the wolf. Luckily, the all of the seemingly unlucky things combine to defeat the wolf through an accidental comic chain reaction.

Morals: beware strangers of bearing gifts and if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!

[Shelbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was clever, and the kids didn't see the twist coming. They were excited when the duck ended up sharing the soup with her friends.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan the duck has terrible luck -- her new roller skates are two sizes too big. Just as she is bemoaning her misfortune a wolf shows up and tells her she has won a giant soup pot. She feels briefly lucky, until a lightbulb bursts. Then the wolf comes back to tell her she's won some onions. With each bit of bad luck, a glimmer of hope comes with the well-dressed wolf bringing all the elements needed for a great soup. If there is anything we know about wolves in picture books, they are starving, and probably eager to eat some duck soup -- so little readers will probably pick up on the twist early. But that doesn't make it any less funny when Susan tricks her would-be assailant with a twist of good luck. Greg Pizzoli's classically funny illustrations round out this hilarious book.

[Amy Oberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Lucky Duck" was the *featured picture book* shared during a recent family gathering. My second-grade niece read it aloud for all to enjoy, and listeners of all ages laughed out loud on more than one occasion. This book lends itself to making predictions, yet the unique and unexpected ending pulled together a variety of "threads" presented earlier in the story. One of Pizzoli's best creations to date!

Publication Date: 2024
Format: Picture book
Elements: Bold illustrations with a crisp typeface; "find the little orange bug" per spread
Connection/Topics: Connection to the expression; making predictions

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pizzoli's signature '50s-style cartoon characters and fun color palette tell the story of a duck who is nearly tricked into the soup pot by a hungry wolf. However, her "unlucky" day comes together in a humorous way to foil the wolf and make her one lucky duck indeed.

A humorous reminder that nobody wants to be on the menu with the wacky spirit of "Rocky & Bullwinkle" and similar classic toons.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book. It really has so much to say about our mindset. Sometimes, things are happening for a bigger picture we can't see until that picture is complete and then we see how it was all a set-up. Very fun book.

This is similar to the fable about the farmer who keeps having things happen to him. Something bad and all his neighbors comment on how unlucky he is, then something good and they comment on how lucky he is. The farmer stays neutral and just accepts the events for life and doesn't assign good and bad. It goes back and forth, calamity and windfall.

This story is different, yet in that vein. Duck ordered skates and they are 2 sizes to big. Then a wold shows up and tell her it's her lucky day, she won a pot. As the reader, we know what that's about, but the duck feels she is lucky. Then something unlucky, then the wolf brings onions and she feels lucky. Back and forth. It goes on until the wold comes to eat her and all the unlucky things that happened to duck, prevent the wolf from eating her.

The artwork is colorful and not that great, but it doesn't matter. The power of the story overcomes. The story is huge and wonderful and the artwork is enough to tell it, so it's fine.

I think kids would have so much fun with this. I think they will love it. Some will get the set up and some won't and that would be fun to read with a group.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this latest from award-winning author and illustrator Pizzoli, Susan the duck is feeling quite unlucky. The roller skates she ordered don’t fit, the pickle jar is empty, and there’s a nest of hornets just outside her door. But the doorbell keeps ringing every few hours, as a wolf arrives to announce she has won a prize – a pot, some onions, celery, and carrots. How lucky, Susan thinks! It’s all she needs for a delicious soup, so she proceeds to prepare the big pot and invites friends to join her for dinner. How the wolf’s plans are thwarted will delight readers young and old, as Pizzoli brings all the pieces together in a hilarious and satisfying ending. A perfect choice for storytime or lapsharing, the print is large and the text is not too long. The flat, cartoon-like illustrations are drawn using pencil crayons, and then photoshopped, and interestingly, the credits say the lettering is hand-drawn too, though it looks mechanical. I appreciate this kind of info in the copyright page. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its children’s easy book collection.

[Bonnie Lambourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very very funny picture book, great for reading aloud, but also easy to read words and text size for the early independent reader. Is Susan the duck lucky or unlucky? The answer changes with every moment of her day, though the cover illustration is a funny hint of what's to come.

Not exactly a twist on a fairy/ folk tale but with elements well recognized by most children who've heard or read some or watched cartoons, to add to the tension of what's to come. The ending didn't surprise me, but it probably will all young children. Either way, the illustrations showing the slapstick outcome are too funny to not laugh. Especially since there is no bad action at the hands of Susan the duck. I love that the rule of "main character agency" is broken here.... there is no act of revenge or even defense to cause the desired outcome. It is all about luck turning.... the only foresight is in the reader's figuring out, not by Susan who is merely a Lucky Duck.

[I've intentionally left out all the details in hopes you enjoy this read as thoroughly as I did!]

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This humorous picture book gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "lucky duck." Even though Susan, a duck who is portrayed wearing a red top with white polka dots, considers herself extremely unlucky because her online order contains the wrong size of roller skates, an unexpected visitor makes her feel as though her luck has changed. Young readers will realize that the wolf who arrives at her door with the gift of a pot, followed by other ingredients on subsequent visits, definitely does not have her best interest at heart, something Susan fails to understand until it's almost too late. The text reads smoothly, and the illustrations, created with pencil, brush, and Photoshop, rely on simple lines and shapes as well as several close-ups of the characters' faces to tell the story. This one is a charmer for the younger set, and a good read aloud choice.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg Pizzoli has created an attractive character in Susan Duck. We see how this character flips back and forth between bad luck and good luck. Most of the good luck is brought about by a wolf who has ulterior motives. When Susan finally becomes aware of what the wolf is up to. all of Susan's bad luck suddenly helps her out. Young readers will enjoy figuring out what the wolf is up to and predicting how Susan will get out of trouble. The text is very accessible. Pizzoli uses an illustrative style that will remind some of the Pigeon books. It is a fun book and deserves a place in home and school libraries.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Susan the Duck starts her day receiving roller skates two sizes too big and continues with many other unlucky occurrences throughout the day.

Susan answers the door to a wolf, who claims she has won a big pot. She began to feel lucky to win all of the vegetables the wolf kept bringing throughout the day.

Susan soon realizes her bad luck was lucky and her good luck was unlucky.

Comments: This is a humorous story that young readers will enjoy as it unravels and would make for a fun read-aloud. 

The illustrations are drawn with pencil, brush, and Photoshop.

Rating: 4/5 --📗📗📗

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

**This book is being considered as a nominee for next year’s Beehive Book Award for Children in Utah. My review reflects my thoughts as it pertains to that consideration.**

Having read That Is Not a Good Idea!, I could tell where this one was going. But I still enjoyed it. I loved that all the things that were unlucky ended up being helpful in the end. Hilarious, great illustrations, so much fun, and a great candidate for a nomination AND for Storytime.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan feels unlucky each time something goes wrong and then feels lucky when a wolf tells her she won different thing to help make a soup. Since Susan is so focused on her tasks, she doesn't put all the pieces together until it's almost too late. In a preschool storytime, you could do a soup activity where every child gets to add something to the soup. It would probably go better one-on-one or in a kindergarten or 1st grade class because those children could appreciate all of Susan's unlucky things end up being Kevin McCallister-level traps for the wolf/Wet Bandits.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:

This was more of a 4.5 star read for me, I was a bit annoyed with how Susan the duck got upset with each new ‘unlucky’ thing that happened to her (despite the random ‘gifts’ being given around the same times).

As an adult, I could figure out where this story was going from the very first gift. Though I was happily surprised by the ending and how it brought everything together!

Summary:

Susan the duck is having the worst of luck. Nothing seems to be going her way, until a wolf shows up with a gift she’s won. Things seem to be going better and the wolf keeps coming back with more gifts. Is this her lucky day?

[Kirsten Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan the duck feels particularly unlucky until Wolf surprises her with a pot, followed by onions, celery, and carrots. Throughout this sequence of gifts, a series of unfortunate events continues to unfold, deepening Susan's sense of bad luck. However, when Wolf announces that dinner will be duck stew and claims it is his lucky day, an unexpected chain of events reveals a twist that makes Susan feel fortunate after all. This whimsical and intricate story teaches older children that what initially appears to be bad luck may not always be what it seems.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan can’t believe her rotten luck. The roller skates she ordered online are too big! She can’t find her favorite marble! And is that a hornet’s nest right outside her front door?! But then there’s a knock at her door, and Susan’s luck seems to take a turn for the better: she just won a giant soup pot! And the wolf that delivers the prize seems very nice...

Unique and unexpected, and perfect for repeat readings.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing I like about Pizzoli’s picture books is that the text is easy to read, the illustrations are colorful but simple, and they read aloud at storytime so well. This book is no exception! As the story builds I think kids will start to realize what is happening. When kids “figure out” the plot of a book they get so excited and enjoy a book so much more. Very excited to use this in storytime!

[Emily Haage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous story about Susan the Duck whose seemingly bad luck is a lifesaver in the end. Reminds me a bit of Mo Willems' That is Not a Good Idea!, but not quite the level of dark humor.

I always like Greg Pizzoli's illustrations: simple, yet expressive. Bold lines. And the color palette gives off some retro vibes.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can never go wrong with a Greg Pizzoli book. This new one didn’t disappoint. Once again a fox gets outwitted while trying to get duck made into soup. Love the new twist with a very small bug helping out the duck. The illustrations add narrative to the fun story that would make a great read aloud with its large illustrations.

[Kelly]

I liked this book. It was funny. I wonder what age kids you would need to pick up on what's being planned. I'm guessing 1st-3rd. I wish there had been a line at the end like, "Sometimes your bad luck isn't so bad after all," but maybe the author thought that would sound too preachy and wanted kids to just understand that without saying it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan the duck is having some bad luck. However, every time something goes wrong, a wolf turns up with a gift -- a large cooking pot, onions, celery, carrots. Hmmm! Although readers figure out what's going on before Susan, the carefully crafted conclusion is great fun. This will be a wonderfully entertaining picture book to read aloud.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite Greg Pizzoli book. Funny and a lot of fun to read aloud. Reminded me of pantomime theatre shows when I was a kid. The character can’t see the danger but the audience can.
Susan’s having a bad day. Stuff keeps going wrong. But then it seems her luck has changed with the arrival of an unexpected visitor. Maybe Susan isn’t having such rotten luck after all.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Pizzoli, and I liked this book a lot and thought the structure was easy to follow. I was especially delighted with the ending, how all of Susan's previously "bad" luck items conveniently ended up helping to save her from the wolf. A great amount of text per page, and fun vibrant color palette.