What do you think?
Rate this book
Duck & Goose #2
Duck, Duck, Goose
The beloved, classic, and New York Times-bestselling odd couple Duck & Goose are back, and this time their friendship is put to the test!
Duck & Goose, Goose & Duck. Feathered friends forever . . . or are they? You see, there's a challenge to their friendship: a little whippersnapper of a duck named Thistle. Thistle is good at everything (or so she thinks), from math to holding her breath to standing on her head. Duck thinks she's fantastic. But Goose does not! And so Goose is faced with a problem close to the hearts of children everywhere: What happens when your best friend makes a new friend?PRAISE FOR THE DUCK & GOOSE SERIES:
"Duck and Goose have taken their places alongside Frog and Toad and George and Martha as fine examples of friendship, curiosity and problem-solving."--Kirkus Reviews
"Charming, funny, simple, and surprising. . . . Hills is master of the light comic touch."--The Boston Globe
Duck & Goose, Goose & Duck. Feathered friends forever . . . or are they? You see, there's a challenge to their friendship: a little whippersnapper of a duck named Thistle. Thistle is good at everything (or so she thinks), from math to holding her breath to standing on her head. Duck thinks she's fantastic. But Goose does not! And so Goose is faced with a problem close to the hearts of children everywhere: What happens when your best friend makes a new friend?PRAISE FOR THE DUCK & GOOSE SERIES:
"Duck and Goose have taken their places alongside Frog and Toad and George and Martha as fine examples of friendship, curiosity and problem-solving."--Kirkus Reviews
"Charming, funny, simple, and surprising. . . . Hills is master of the light comic touch."--The Boston Globe
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2007
28 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Tad Hills
60 books123 followers“Whenever I picture myself [as a child],” says Tad Hills, “I am doing art. I spent a lot of time on my own making things, drawing, and painting.” Hills was not consciously trying to become an artist, rather his motives were innocent and pure. “I liked making things,” he says.
As a graduate of Skidmore College in New York with a degree in art, Hills describes himself as the ultimate freelancer. He’s done some acting, made jewelry, makes fake teeth for stage productions, dabbled in interior renovation, and illustrated book jackets for adult trade books. But Hills’ break into children’s publishing coincided with his wife Lee’s new position as the art director for Simon and Schuster’s children’s book division. “Lee used to ask me to try illustrating some books she couldn’t find an illustrator for,” Hills says. When Lee moved to Random House to start her own imprint with long-time friend and associate, Ann Schwartz, she encouraged Hills to write his own picture books. “I started with four stories,” says Hills. His break out book, Duck and Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2006) was one of them.
The idea for Duck and Goose started with only a title—The Silly Goose, the Odd Duck and the Good Egg. As Hills developed the story, he realized his egg would have to be rather large to support Duck and Goose so they could hatch it. Hills also had to consider what would hatch out of such a large egg. A dinosaur? An ostrich? Additionally, Hills floated the title by his son’s kindergarten class and was rewarded with blank stares. Hills took the hint and changed his egg to a ball, and changed the title.
“For me, the writing is really difficult. I stare at a blank page for hours,” he says. “When Lee comes home and asks me about my day, I say it was okay. I wrote one sentence. . .But when I’m in the zone, I literally hear the dialogue between [Duck and Goose]. They were telling me what they wanted to say! That is the best feeling. That is when it’s not work. It’s fun!”
Hills paints with water-soluble oil paint on paper, using colored pencils for the last details. Although Hills’ Duck and Goose characters look simple enough, he drew hundreds of ducks and geese before finding a style with which he was comfortable. “The first ones [I drew] were older looking,” he says. “They looked like cigar-smoking tough guys.” Over a matter of months, Hills finally pared down Duck and Goose to their essential elements—circular heads, long rectangular legs, triangular feet, and door-shaped beaks. “When I apply the eyebrow,” he says, “I can express what Duck is feeling.”
As Hills’ two children grow, he finds himself drawn to how kids treat each other. “I didn’t tolerate meanness or injustice as a kid,” he says. In Duck, Duck, Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2007), Hills creates a friendship triangle by introducing a new duck named Thistle. Together Duck, Goose, and Thistle give Hills’ observations a voice and provide several conversation starters for parents and children.
Hills writes from his home in Brooklyn, New York. Some days he doesn’t write at all, but tries to stay receptive to what he’s experiencing. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m not looking,” he says. “It’s hard to get yourself to a point where ideas are out there and you can grab them.”
from http://www.patriciamnewman.com/hills....
As a graduate of Skidmore College in New York with a degree in art, Hills describes himself as the ultimate freelancer. He’s done some acting, made jewelry, makes fake teeth for stage productions, dabbled in interior renovation, and illustrated book jackets for adult trade books. But Hills’ break into children’s publishing coincided with his wife Lee’s new position as the art director for Simon and Schuster’s children’s book division. “Lee used to ask me to try illustrating some books she couldn’t find an illustrator for,” Hills says. When Lee moved to Random House to start her own imprint with long-time friend and associate, Ann Schwartz, she encouraged Hills to write his own picture books. “I started with four stories,” says Hills. His break out book, Duck and Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2006) was one of them.
The idea for Duck and Goose started with only a title—The Silly Goose, the Odd Duck and the Good Egg. As Hills developed the story, he realized his egg would have to be rather large to support Duck and Goose so they could hatch it. Hills also had to consider what would hatch out of such a large egg. A dinosaur? An ostrich? Additionally, Hills floated the title by his son’s kindergarten class and was rewarded with blank stares. Hills took the hint and changed his egg to a ball, and changed the title.
“For me, the writing is really difficult. I stare at a blank page for hours,” he says. “When Lee comes home and asks me about my day, I say it was okay. I wrote one sentence. . .But when I’m in the zone, I literally hear the dialogue between [Duck and Goose]. They were telling me what they wanted to say! That is the best feeling. That is when it’s not work. It’s fun!”
Hills paints with water-soluble oil paint on paper, using colored pencils for the last details. Although Hills’ Duck and Goose characters look simple enough, he drew hundreds of ducks and geese before finding a style with which he was comfortable. “The first ones [I drew] were older looking,” he says. “They looked like cigar-smoking tough guys.” Over a matter of months, Hills finally pared down Duck and Goose to their essential elements—circular heads, long rectangular legs, triangular feet, and door-shaped beaks. “When I apply the eyebrow,” he says, “I can express what Duck is feeling.”
As Hills’ two children grow, he finds himself drawn to how kids treat each other. “I didn’t tolerate meanness or injustice as a kid,” he says. In Duck, Duck, Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2007), Hills creates a friendship triangle by introducing a new duck named Thistle. Together Duck, Goose, and Thistle give Hills’ observations a voice and provide several conversation starters for parents and children.
Hills writes from his home in Brooklyn, New York. Some days he doesn’t write at all, but tries to stay receptive to what he’s experiencing. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m not looking,” he says. “It’s hard to get yourself to a point where ideas are out there and you can grab them.”
from http://www.patriciamnewman.com/hills....
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
October 13, 2019
Those two fowl friends, Duck and Goose, return in this second picture-book devoted to their adventures, this time contending with the introduction of a third bird - a new duck named Thistle - to their social circle. At first enthralled by the newcomer, Duck is oblivious to her boasting ways. But when Goose gets tired of her company and wanders off alone, suddenly Duck realizes that he too isn't really enjoying the competitive games favored by his anatine fellow...
Like Duck & Goose , which introduced these two winsome friends, Duck, Duck, Goose pairs an engaging and ultimately heartwarming story with beautiful, vibrantly colorful artwork. I liked the message, implicit in the story here, that there needs to be a balance between more active, competitive activities and more contemplative, peaceful ones, in the play of young people. Sometimes you need to stop and smell the flowers, or play a game without worrying about who wins or loses. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the first Duck & Goose story, or anyone looking for picture-books about friendship and the social dynamics of play.
Like Duck & Goose , which introduced these two winsome friends, Duck, Duck, Goose pairs an engaging and ultimately heartwarming story with beautiful, vibrantly colorful artwork. I liked the message, implicit in the story here, that there needs to be a balance between more active, competitive activities and more contemplative, peaceful ones, in the play of young people. Sometimes you need to stop and smell the flowers, or play a game without worrying about who wins or loses. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the first Duck & Goose story, or anyone looking for picture-books about friendship and the social dynamics of play.
April 30, 2009
The snotty, little, know-it-all duck never learns anything. They just trick him into falling asleep.
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Me for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com
My kids and I giggled our way through DUCK & GOOSE, Tad Hills' first book starring these two lovable characters. With DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE, our favorite quacker and honker are back -- but this time there's another character thrown into the mix, and three is most definitely a crowd.
Duck is very excited to introduce Thistle, the new duck who just moved into the area, to his best friend Goose. And, at first, Goose is just as happy to meet this new duck.
That is, until Goose soon learns that Thistle is the best at everything, and I mean everything! She's the fastest, she's the best at math, she's had three butterflies land on her bill at the same time (compared to Goose's one), she can hold her breath the longest, run up the hill the fastest, and...well, the list goes on and on.
Goose learns very quickly that Thistle is the best, and that no one else can ever hope to measure up. And yet he's tired of everything always being turned into a contest. So he has no choice but to leave Duck and Thistle to their own devices and rest, by himself, behind his and Duck's favorite bush.
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE is a wonderful book, about meeting new people, the spirit of competition, and the true meaning of friendship. Both toddlers and older readers will be enchanted, once again, by Tad Hills' brilliant illustrations, and the story will have them alternately laughing-out-loud and commiserating with how left out and lonely Goose feels.
This one is another winner, and definitely deserves a place on your keeper shelf!
My kids and I giggled our way through DUCK & GOOSE, Tad Hills' first book starring these two lovable characters. With DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE, our favorite quacker and honker are back -- but this time there's another character thrown into the mix, and three is most definitely a crowd.
Duck is very excited to introduce Thistle, the new duck who just moved into the area, to his best friend Goose. And, at first, Goose is just as happy to meet this new duck.
That is, until Goose soon learns that Thistle is the best at everything, and I mean everything! She's the fastest, she's the best at math, she's had three butterflies land on her bill at the same time (compared to Goose's one), she can hold her breath the longest, run up the hill the fastest, and...well, the list goes on and on.
Goose learns very quickly that Thistle is the best, and that no one else can ever hope to measure up. And yet he's tired of everything always being turned into a contest. So he has no choice but to leave Duck and Thistle to their own devices and rest, by himself, behind his and Duck's favorite bush.
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE is a wonderful book, about meeting new people, the spirit of competition, and the true meaning of friendship. Both toddlers and older readers will be enchanted, once again, by Tad Hills' brilliant illustrations, and the story will have them alternately laughing-out-loud and commiserating with how left out and lonely Goose feels.
This one is another winner, and definitely deserves a place on your keeper shelf!
December 4, 2014
So this book isn't I believe the first to follow these character Duck and Goose.
In this book though there's a new character named Thistle who Duck brings to meet Goose. She just moved there and Duck thinks she's super cool but she's kind of a show off and she's the sort to turn EVERYTHING into a competition and that gets old really fast.
I liked it, it had nice pictures. And I would definitly want to get more Duck and Goose books.
In this book though there's a new character named Thistle who Duck brings to meet Goose. She just moved there and Duck thinks she's super cool but she's kind of a show off and she's the sort to turn EVERYTHING into a competition and that gets old really fast.
I liked it, it had nice pictures. And I would definitly want to get more Duck and Goose books.
May 23, 2014
Wonderful characters and a very cool ending!
November 14, 2016
نقاشی ها و حس هاش، واقعاً لطیف بودن!
March 2, 2018
A great book for teaching children about competition. When everything is a competition, it’s not very fun. This book showed my preschoolers that not everything needs to be a competition and it’s okay just to relax and have fun!
October 31, 2012
Duck, Duck, Goose! That phrase has always only been known as a favorite child hood game right? Not exactly. In this great Duck and Goose series, Tad Hills brings life to a duck and a goose, who happen to be the best of friends. Duck and Goose are always having many adventures together, just the two of them…until a new friend tags along. That friend is another Duck named Thistle. When Duck brings Thistle along to meet Goose, Thistle quickly becomes the center of attention. No matter what Goose tries to do, it seems like Thistle always tries to be the best at everything. With Goose feeling left out, he leaves the two ducks to themselves. Soon after, Duck realizes that his friend Goose is not with them anymore, and sets off to find Goose.
This is the perfect book for any child who has the same kind of situation as Goose, where they are sharing a friend and start to get jealous. It teaches children that even though new friends may come into the picture, they never take place of the friendship you had before. It also teaches children how to treat new friends, and that being the center of attention at everything isn’t always the best thing.
The Illustrations, also done by Tad Hills, is beautifully done in oil paints. The paints help bring the book to life and really opens up the scenery for the characters. The way the characters are portrayed are cute and creative and will have children wanting to see Duck and Goose again and again. So if you are looking for plenty of adventure and lessons to be learned, check out Duck, Duck, Goose!
This is the perfect book for any child who has the same kind of situation as Goose, where they are sharing a friend and start to get jealous. It teaches children that even though new friends may come into the picture, they never take place of the friendship you had before. It also teaches children how to treat new friends, and that being the center of attention at everything isn’t always the best thing.
The Illustrations, also done by Tad Hills, is beautifully done in oil paints. The paints help bring the book to life and really opens up the scenery for the characters. The way the characters are portrayed are cute and creative and will have children wanting to see Duck and Goose again and again. So if you are looking for plenty of adventure and lessons to be learned, check out Duck, Duck, Goose!
July 6, 2015
This is great book that portrays a real life situation for many children. A problem that arises and is close to the hearts of many children everywhere is: What happens when your best friend meets and makes another friend? There are many things that children can learn from this. They can learn about friendship, about character traits, and even emotions. This book is about Duck who meets a new friend, Thistle, who seems to know it all. Thistle challenges and mocks Goose who is really good friends with Duck. Thistle has very unlikable traits and displays actions of a bully. Teachers can teach their students about bullying through speaking and how it makes others feel. The illustrations in the book are mainly the characters so it focuses on their actions and what they are doing. It allows the readers to focus more on the characters instead of the settings around them. It is a great realistic fiction and fantasy book for younger children.
October 29, 2010
Duck and Goose are friends, and a new duck moves in. She annoys them by always being the best at everything and showing off. Then they get her to be the world's best napper so they can ditch her and play by themselves.
I got this book for my 16-month-old baby who loves her copy of What's Up Duck?: A Book of Opposites. This book is quite different, though, despite featuring the same characters and cute illustrations. She couldn't sit through more than two pages. Even my four-year-old lost interest because it's just too wordy and not much happened. I found all the conversation between the birds quite annoying.
I got this book for my 16-month-old baby who loves her copy of What's Up Duck?: A Book of Opposites. This book is quite different, though, despite featuring the same characters and cute illustrations. She couldn't sit through more than two pages. Even my four-year-old lost interest because it's just too wordy and not much happened. I found all the conversation between the birds quite annoying.
July 3, 2015
The whole time I was reading this book out loud, I kept thinking, Oh, Duck and Goose are going to teach Thistle about friendship. I was really bummed that they didn't.
Thistle is obnoxious. She sounds an awful lot like a child who has plenty of spare time and not many friends. Duck and Goose have a solid friendship. Instead of tricking Thistle, it would have been a MUCH better book if Thistle was befriended by both Duck and Goose and shown how friends play together.
I still love the illustrations, and I still love Duck and Goose, but I know they are better than this book portrays them.
Thistle is obnoxious. She sounds an awful lot like a child who has plenty of spare time and not many friends. Duck and Goose have a solid friendship. Instead of tricking Thistle, it would have been a MUCH better book if Thistle was befriended by both Duck and Goose and shown how friends play together.
I still love the illustrations, and I still love Duck and Goose, but I know they are better than this book portrays them.
June 21, 2009
I remember the days when a perfectly good childhood friendship was altered by the appearance of a third person. Come to think of it, that happens in adulthood too. Watch Duck and Goose negotiate the addition of Thistle, a new duck in the neighborhood, to their twosome. Goose has to figure out if he wants to play Thistle's way or remain true to himself. Will he lose his old friend to this new arrival? Written for young children, this book contains some universal life lessons in an easily understandable story that all of us can relate to.
November 16, 2011
What a horrible little book!
Good part: The illustrations are cute.
Bad parts: Everything else. The message is horrible and the conflict wasn't resolved right. The first few pages are full of unclear dialogue that would be hard for a kid to follow ("who's saying what?"). Characters aren't established right, nor do I feel they're represented well or developed appropriately.
Don't read this to your kids.
(Once a month I read picture books to a 2nd grade class. Obviously this one didn't make the cut.)
Good part: The illustrations are cute.
Bad parts: Everything else. The message is horrible and the conflict wasn't resolved right. The first few pages are full of unclear dialogue that would be hard for a kid to follow ("who's saying what?"). Characters aren't established right, nor do I feel they're represented well or developed appropriately.
Don't read this to your kids.
(Once a month I read picture books to a 2nd grade class. Obviously this one didn't make the cut.)
March 10, 2014
Duck and Goose are among my favorite picture book characters. My granddaughter has a fun Christmas board book that first introduced me to these two friends. In this story, Duck and Goose are joined by the new duck in the neighborhood, Thistle. Thistle turns everything into a contest. Thistle dominates everything and doesn't listen to others when they talk. And Thistle is the world's best at everything. Goose doesn't like the things that Thistle wants to do. What can they do with this newcomer? Fun story. I think little ones will really like the continuing story of this friendship.
March 7, 2008
How cute! I thought I would like this one just from the illustrations. They are good and very simple. And the themes in the book are easy for kids (and adults!) to relate to: feeling left out because of a new person, feeling abandoned by a friend, someone else being better than you are at things, doing things you don't really like because you want to spend time with friends, and having to endure a huge braggart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2011
This is a cute and fun picture book that is extremely characterisitic of Tad Hills and his style. I love the little goose and how he manages his responses to the annoying (but you can't help but identify with) Thistle. This is a great book for young children that will help them understand the delicate balance every kid learns about juggling more than one friend and finding a place in your life for all different types of friends and personalitites. Plus, it is just a fun book!
September 8, 2008
Yes! I think I love this book as much as my daughter does. She for some reason identifies with Thistle. We checked it out from the library and I am seriously consider purchasing it. My favorite part is at the end when Thistle says she is the a world champion napper! That has helped but my little one to bed!
October 30, 2009
What a sweet book. Duck and Goose are friends, and then along comes Thistle to stir things up. She can do all sorts of things and she does them very well. Stand on her head, hold her breath... she's perfect! Goose just wants to smell the flowers and play with the ball. Can Duck and Goose stay friends since Duck's new friend Thistle is so different?
August 19, 2011
This story is the epitome of "Three's a crowd," especially when two of the three have very different personalities. Where Goose is calm, patient and enjoys peace and quiet, Thistle is loud, competitive and busy, busy, busy. This is a good book to read to children who are feeling competition or conflict in their friendships. We enjoyed reading this story together.
March 25, 2014
Great book about a duck who always has to be the best and out do everyone else. Great read aloud for discussion. Love!
September 7, 2014
A good book to demonstrate sharing and the struggles of learning to share. Great read for younger students!
January 1, 2015
Good illustrations. These Duck & Goose books are short and sweet.
July 19, 2015
Dealt with jealousy and bragging in a cute way.
March 10, 2015
Not exactly the lesson I would like to teach my son, but it was a sweet book about friendship.
August 9, 2023
I haven't read the original book so I have no idea of how a duck and a goose became friends in the first place but I do think the cover on this one was cute enough to give it a read over.
Once you open the book, though, there is a spot in which the author wants the child reader to draw their favorite outdoor activity. If you read the small intro before getting to the instructions it does give the more experienced reader an idea on how this book will go.
Duck, Duck, Goose is a story about two friends who have someone new move in to the neighborhood. Unfortunately the newcomer is very competitive, seems like she is so much better than everyone else and the one friend just seems to be overly impressed while following the hurricane power of that powerhouse while the other ends up falling to the wayside. Sadly this story is one that we will all go through at some point in our lives while this is a great way to confront that situation and to encourage the adults of these young readers to discuss how young readers should confront this dilemma when it comes for the end isn't a great solution.
Otherwise the book has some adorable characters although I can't figure out the age of these birds. The non-creatively named Duck has the same colors as a duckling but Goose looks more like a swan instead of any gosling I have seen.
The story is cute and would make for a great read for young readers, especially if you are focusing on themes of friendship.
Once you open the book, though, there is a spot in which the author wants the child reader to draw their favorite outdoor activity. If you read the small intro before getting to the instructions it does give the more experienced reader an idea on how this book will go.
Duck, Duck, Goose is a story about two friends who have someone new move in to the neighborhood. Unfortunately the newcomer is very competitive, seems like she is so much better than everyone else and the one friend just seems to be overly impressed while following the hurricane power of that powerhouse while the other ends up falling to the wayside. Sadly this story is one that we will all go through at some point in our lives while this is a great way to confront that situation and to encourage the adults of these young readers to discuss how young readers should confront this dilemma when it comes for the end isn't a great solution.
Otherwise the book has some adorable characters although I can't figure out the age of these birds. The non-creatively named Duck has the same colors as a duckling but Goose looks more like a swan instead of any gosling I have seen.
The story is cute and would make for a great read for young readers, especially if you are focusing on themes of friendship.
October 16, 2017
It's a beautiful book with the bright illustrations and pictures to keep a child engaged. It's a great book to talk about having more than one friend. I remember being young and what an adjustment it was when your friend gets another friend. You can't seem to fathom the possibility that you'll still remain friends. It seemed like the end of the world. Anyways, I think it's a bit lengthy so it's for a child a little bit older with a good attention span.
December 6, 2021
A duck and goose come across an egg. Both of them are fighting over this egg. The both of them went on about talking about how when the baby bird hatches, they are gonna both teach the baby bird to do different things. Duck and goose began to bond over this egg, to where they waiting and waited and waited for it to hatch. Eventually they noticed the egg was squishier than most eggs. Until they figured out that this wasn't an egg, it was a bouncy ball.
September 20, 2023
When Thistle moves to town, the dynamics of Duck and Goose's friendship start to change. Thistle is loud and braggadocious. She wants everything to be a competition, and Goose doesn't enjoy that. Eventually Duck has had enough of Thistle's behavior as well. Duck and Goose talk things over and realize they don't like a lot of the things Thistle wants them to do. A good book about realizing you don't have to go along with everything a loud leader says.
October 8, 2018
Genre: Picture Book
Copyright Date: 2007
Thoughts: A wonderful book about friendship. So cute and keeps you on your toes. So glad Duck and Goose worked things out.
Classroom Use: Good read to younger kids who are learning to make friends. Also, a great way to talk about how not everything should be a competition as Thistle makes it be.
Copyright Date: 2007
Thoughts: A wonderful book about friendship. So cute and keeps you on your toes. So glad Duck and Goose worked things out.
Classroom Use: Good read to younger kids who are learning to make friends. Also, a great way to talk about how not everything should be a competition as Thistle makes it be.
May 1, 2025
3 stars (I liked it)
A coworker lent me this book because she really liked it. It's not my favorite but it's cute. Thistle annoyed me. I feel like there was going to be a lesson about bragging but in the end, they just kind of trick Thistle to get some peace and quiet. Illustrations are engaging.
A coworker lent me this book because she really liked it. It's not my favorite but it's cute. Thistle annoyed me. I feel like there was going to be a lesson about bragging but in the end, they just kind of trick Thistle to get some peace and quiet. Illustrations are engaging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews