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The Great Peach Experiment #4
Duck, Duck, Peach
The fourth Great Peach book finds the family back in Duluth, Minnesota for a summer filled with mystery, competition, pie, and . . . the World’s Largest Rubber Duck.
School’s out soon, and the Peaches are looking forward to some quiet, especially now that the family’s B&B (aka the "Peach Pit") is finally running smoothly. But quiet and normal aren’t really the Peach way. When a massive Festival of Ships sails into their town, of course the Peaches have to dive in head-first.
Ships of all kinds start rolling in: pirate ships, tall sailboats, tug boats, snazzy speed boats. And the highlight of the whole show: The WORLD’S LARGEST RUBBER DUCK. Suddenly the Peachtree B&B is sold out, and the Peaches are cooking up other tasty solutions.
But then the World’s Largest Rubber Duck goes missing! Stolen? Sunk? Airlifted by aliens? The hunt is on for the famous icon, and the Peaches are leading the search. Using all their skills—on land and water—they are determined to find the missing duck and bring it back to its home in the harbor.
School’s out soon, and the Peaches are looking forward to some quiet, especially now that the family’s B&B (aka the "Peach Pit") is finally running smoothly. But quiet and normal aren’t really the Peach way. When a massive Festival of Ships sails into their town, of course the Peaches have to dive in head-first.
Ships of all kinds start rolling in: pirate ships, tall sailboats, tug boats, snazzy speed boats. And the highlight of the whole show: The WORLD’S LARGEST RUBBER DUCK. Suddenly the Peachtree B&B is sold out, and the Peaches are cooking up other tasty solutions.
But then the World’s Largest Rubber Duck goes missing! Stolen? Sunk? Airlifted by aliens? The hunt is on for the famous icon, and the Peaches are leading the search. Using all their skills—on land and water—they are determined to find the missing duck and bring it back to its home in the harbor.
299 pages, Hardcover
Published April 9, 2024
6 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Erin Soderberg Downing
58 books274 followersI read and write lots of funny, adventurous, & heartwarming books for kids, tweens, and teens (and even a few romantic comedies for adults, too!) that are ultimately about finding your place, finding your people, and finding your voice. I always love book recommendations, so please send them my way. As a reader, I'm partial to contemporary romantic comedy, thrillers that keep the pages turning and have well-built characters, funny/original voices, quirky characters, and always kids' books with humor and heart.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 9, 2024
4th (and last) in The Great Peach Experiment Series, DUCK, DUCK, PEACH will delight middle grade readers of realistic fiction just as much as the first three. On the heels of learning more ways to make their bed and breakfast successful during a trip to Norway’s Ice Hotel, Lucy finds their inn full in anticipation of a boat festival in the Peach’s hometown of Duluth, MN. True to form, all the Peaches are involved in the festival, directly or indirectly-Lucy will be keeping their guests happy and “in the know” about all the things to do at the waterfront, Freddy is busy with his team of fellow builders constructing the almost world’s largest cardboard castle for visitors to tour and make additions while youngest brother Herb has joined with friends from the senior adult center to have food trucks feed tourists. Along with the many boats, ships, and yachts sailing under/through the aerial lift bridge will be the world’s largest rubber duck…maybe. Downing’s Peach family have such great personalities and all are so unique! The whole crew has been through so much since Mom died and each of them have changed in small and not so small ways, especially Dad. Those changes are likely part of what will keep those in grades 3-6 coming back for the next installment. That and the way Downing incorporates so many tidbits about places that most have not visited! The research into the settings for all four books is evident and give readers a feeling of having “been there” and hopefully will lead families to visit many of them to see what all the fun is really about! Text is free of profanity, sexual content and the only violence is that which is done by nature during an unexpected storm. Main characters and visitors to the Peach’s B&B have well-developed personalities, but physical descriptions are infrequent, allowing readers to assign whatever hair, skin tone, or body type they choose. While reading the series in order is not required, libraries will want to own all four because reading any of them will lead to wanting others!
Thanks for the print ARC, Erin Downing!
Thanks for the print ARC, Erin Downing!
October 30, 2024
Cute middle grade series
February 21, 2025
It is summer and the Festival of Ships is coming to the Peach's hometown of Duluth. Their B & B is going to be full for the first time ever during the festival and they are all excited. Lucy is also a little worried about the financial situation of their B & B for the weeks they aren't full, so she's looking for a money-making opportunity. When she hears about a fishing competition, she decides to try her hand at that...but it's hard to catch a fish if you have horrible seasickness. Can she figure out a cure? Freddie is excited for Cardboard Camp and has the big idea to build a huge cardboard castle in the park with other campers and use it during the Festival to raise funds for the art department. But will they be able to finish in time? Herb and Aunt Lucinda and some other ladies have organized for food trucks to come to the Festival. He didn't know one of the other ladies from the retirement home organizes the Festival of Ships. He finds out that her family was supposed to come but now they are saying maybe they can't. Not even for the unveiling of the world's largest rubber duck she commissioned. And then, horror of all horrors, the duck goes missing after a big storm. What could have happened to a giant rubber duck?
It's always enjoyable to spend time with the Peach family, and definitely never dull. On top of the Peach family's activities during the Festival of Ships, readers also get to know some of the guests at the B & B, there's a couple who love fishing, a group of older ladies on a getaway, a family with two rambunctious little kids, and one of hotel manager's Theodore's friends who is camping in the back yard and may possibly be the worst magician in the world. Dad Peach is also around, helping a little bit with each of the kids' activities, plus running the B & B and doing summer work at the university. There's a lot going on, but it never felt like too much. Downing balanced all the plot lines and time with main characters very well.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: The Peaches are white American. I don't really remember much description of the hotel guests or visitors to the festival.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Lucy takes a banana on a fishing boat as a snack and the other people on the boat are horrified. She is quickly informed that bananas are bad luck on boats. She continues to think this must be the case. The notion isn't dispelled at all. I had never heard people believe this before so I Googled it, and evidently many US tour boats actually do have signs saying no bananas, and there are a variety of theories as to why people think bananas are bad luck on boats. Some adults may want to kids who read this book about that though.
It's always enjoyable to spend time with the Peach family, and definitely never dull. On top of the Peach family's activities during the Festival of Ships, readers also get to know some of the guests at the B & B, there's a couple who love fishing, a group of older ladies on a getaway, a family with two rambunctious little kids, and one of hotel manager's Theodore's friends who is camping in the back yard and may possibly be the worst magician in the world. Dad Peach is also around, helping a little bit with each of the kids' activities, plus running the B & B and doing summer work at the university. There's a lot going on, but it never felt like too much. Downing balanced all the plot lines and time with main characters very well.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: The Peaches are white American. I don't really remember much description of the hotel guests or visitors to the festival.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Lucy takes a banana on a fishing boat as a snack and the other people on the boat are horrified. She is quickly informed that bananas are bad luck on boats. She continues to think this must be the case. The notion isn't dispelled at all. I had never heard people believe this before so I Googled it, and evidently many US tour boats actually do have signs saying no bananas, and there are a variety of theories as to why people think bananas are bad luck on boats. Some adults may want to kids who read this book about that though.
January 13, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Lucy, Fred, and Herb are back after their various adventures, and this time, the excitement is coming to Duluth. The bed and breakfast is doing well, and they've hired Theo to run it while the father is at work. The Great Lakes Festival of Ships is coming to their city, and business is booming. The big draw of the festival is a giant rubber duck, and everyone is amazed by it. Some fun is had when the chidlren find the bathtub ducks they had when they were small. They almost have more customers than they can house, and more bookings coming in. Theo has a magician friend, Evan, camping out in the backyard, and the children start to make summer vacation plans. Lucy learns to fish from Phoebe and Matt, who have come to town to participate in a fishing competition, although this doesn't always go smoothly, especially when she brings a banana on the boat. Fred is building a giant cardboard castle, and Herb is joined by Joss and Juniper, the children of the Picone family who are staying with them. When there is a big storm, the castle is ruined, and the giant duck vanishes. Will the children be able to band together to find out what happened to it?
Strengths: This is a great series about a family who manages to have adventures wherever they go, even at home. The children are all upbeat about their life, help out in the family business, and makes lots of friends wherever they go. The festival sounds like great fun, and it would be interesting to talk to the visiting children if one's family owned and bed and breakfast.
Weaknesses: Four books in a series is getting to be a lot. I used to say that the longest series should be five books, but I've been having trouble getting children to check out more than two or three in recent years. It breaks my heart when book one is completely worn out, but two people in ten years check out book three.
What I really think: This is another great book in the series that includes When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie, The Peach Pit, and Frozen Peaches, and will be loved by readers who revel in the family adventures of Glaser's The Vanderbeekers, Birdsall's Penderwicks, and Enright's Melendy family books.
Lucy, Fred, and Herb are back after their various adventures, and this time, the excitement is coming to Duluth. The bed and breakfast is doing well, and they've hired Theo to run it while the father is at work. The Great Lakes Festival of Ships is coming to their city, and business is booming. The big draw of the festival is a giant rubber duck, and everyone is amazed by it. Some fun is had when the chidlren find the bathtub ducks they had when they were small. They almost have more customers than they can house, and more bookings coming in. Theo has a magician friend, Evan, camping out in the backyard, and the children start to make summer vacation plans. Lucy learns to fish from Phoebe and Matt, who have come to town to participate in a fishing competition, although this doesn't always go smoothly, especially when she brings a banana on the boat. Fred is building a giant cardboard castle, and Herb is joined by Joss and Juniper, the children of the Picone family who are staying with them. When there is a big storm, the castle is ruined, and the giant duck vanishes. Will the children be able to band together to find out what happened to it?
Strengths: This is a great series about a family who manages to have adventures wherever they go, even at home. The children are all upbeat about their life, help out in the family business, and makes lots of friends wherever they go. The festival sounds like great fun, and it would be interesting to talk to the visiting children if one's family owned and bed and breakfast.
Weaknesses: Four books in a series is getting to be a lot. I used to say that the longest series should be five books, but I've been having trouble getting children to check out more than two or three in recent years. It breaks my heart when book one is completely worn out, but two people in ten years check out book three.
What I really think: This is another great book in the series that includes When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie, The Peach Pit, and Frozen Peaches, and will be loved by readers who revel in the family adventures of Glaser's The Vanderbeekers, Birdsall's Penderwicks, and Enright's Melendy family books.
October 7, 2024
The Great Peach Experiment: Duck, Duck Peach is a sweet read – no pun intended. Right from the first page you are endeared to the Peach family and find yourself dreaming about staying in their B&B (aka the “Peach Pit). When The Festival of Ships comes to town with the promise of “The World’s Largest Rubber Duck” in attendance, the Peach family finds their lodgings quickly fully booked and lots to do. Unfortunately, things go awry quickly as the visitors at the Peach Pit need a lot more attention than the Peaches planned and add to that a missing large rubber duck and you have yourself quite the read! Author Erin Soderberg Downing beautifully highlights her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota while filling your imagination with life with the Peaches.
Every Peach has their place for The Festival of Ships. Herb, the youngest, is an entrepreneur who already has a food truck event in place for the event with their Great Aunt Lucinda. They will also be teaming up to be a part of the event as they will be selling pies that his father bakes. Lucy is in charge of the B&B and making sure the guests are attended to, but when she learns of a fishing contest she is determined to conquer her seasickness and take part as a way to honor their late mother. Lucy’s other brother Freddy was maybe the most excited for the floating duck’s arrival. He has plans for the community to come together to build “The World’s Largest Cardboard Castle” to give the newcomers to town and local residents another attraction. A snag arises though when a storm comes to town and washes out the food truck area, makes Freddy’s cardboard castle creation a soggy mess and causes The World’s Largest Rubber Duck to vanish! What are the Peaches and the residents to do?!
Downing gives young readers a wonderful mystery to explore and a beautiful book about the bonds of family. Certainly, you’ll find yourself with a craving for pie as well. My one qualm lies with magician Evan who can’t seem to find his manners or make his tricks work properly. Otherwise, The Great Peach Experiment: Duck, Duck Peach is a perfectly precious read for all those who pick it up.
Every Peach has their place for The Festival of Ships. Herb, the youngest, is an entrepreneur who already has a food truck event in place for the event with their Great Aunt Lucinda. They will also be teaming up to be a part of the event as they will be selling pies that his father bakes. Lucy is in charge of the B&B and making sure the guests are attended to, but when she learns of a fishing contest she is determined to conquer her seasickness and take part as a way to honor their late mother. Lucy’s other brother Freddy was maybe the most excited for the floating duck’s arrival. He has plans for the community to come together to build “The World’s Largest Cardboard Castle” to give the newcomers to town and local residents another attraction. A snag arises though when a storm comes to town and washes out the food truck area, makes Freddy’s cardboard castle creation a soggy mess and causes The World’s Largest Rubber Duck to vanish! What are the Peaches and the residents to do?!
Downing gives young readers a wonderful mystery to explore and a beautiful book about the bonds of family. Certainly, you’ll find yourself with a craving for pie as well. My one qualm lies with magician Evan who can’t seem to find his manners or make his tricks work properly. Otherwise, The Great Peach Experiment: Duck, Duck Peach is a perfectly precious read for all those who pick it up.
February 6, 2024
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an advanced print copy for #Bookexpedition to read and review.
Lucy, Fred & Herb are back! Summer break is on the horizon, and the Peach kids are looking forward to hosting the Great Lakes Festival of Ships in their hometown of Duluth, MN. Their B & B is thriving, and the family has plans to help with attractions at the lakefront, such as food trucks and building the world’s largest cardboard castle! When the star of the show, the World’s Largest Rubber Duck goes missing after a storm, it’s up to the Peach kids to figure out what happened to it.
I love that this family has adventures wherever they are, and Erin’s passion for her state of MN comes through in the research she does for writing the Peach family’s stories.
Favorite lines:
Page 121: “Sometimes, we need to find some extra pieces to help build a family when there are parts of our own family missing.”
Page 238-239: “But we need to remember that all families work differently, and when you’re not directly involved, it’s often hard to understand the whys of a situation.”
Preorder now! Publishes April 9, 2024.
Lucy, Fred & Herb are back! Summer break is on the horizon, and the Peach kids are looking forward to hosting the Great Lakes Festival of Ships in their hometown of Duluth, MN. Their B & B is thriving, and the family has plans to help with attractions at the lakefront, such as food trucks and building the world’s largest cardboard castle! When the star of the show, the World’s Largest Rubber Duck goes missing after a storm, it’s up to the Peach kids to figure out what happened to it.
I love that this family has adventures wherever they are, and Erin’s passion for her state of MN comes through in the research she does for writing the Peach family’s stories.
Favorite lines:
Page 121: “Sometimes, we need to find some extra pieces to help build a family when there are parts of our own family missing.”
Page 238-239: “But we need to remember that all families work differently, and when you’re not directly involved, it’s often hard to understand the whys of a situation.”
Preorder now! Publishes April 9, 2024.
June 24, 2024
Middle grade realistic fiction, fourth in a series. I loved this series and thought it had ended with book 3, so I was very excited to see #4. The Peach family has their Inn full due to the Festival of Ships going on in downtown Duluth, Minnesota. They each have duties for the week related to the inn and the festival. Herb is working with Aunt Lucinda and her friends from the senior center to organize food trucks. They are also baking a steady stream of pies to sell. Freddy and his friends from cardboard camp build a cardboard castle for people to come tour. Lucy organizes itineraries for their guests. And their Dad shuttles them back and forth and also keeps things going at the Inn.
The harbor fills with all sorts of ships, including a superyacht, but the big draw is the World's Largest Rubber Duck. Herb's friend Joye had it built with the hopes that her family might be enticed to come visit. But when a freak storm ruins the cardboard castle and leaves the harbor noticeably Large Duck free, the Peach family has to come together to make all of their dreams for the week come true.
While the books do make more sense in order, they are definitely still worth reading in any order as each book is a separate adventure. This family is full of zany travels, adventures, and support for each other. Lots of fun for any age.
The harbor fills with all sorts of ships, including a superyacht, but the big draw is the World's Largest Rubber Duck. Herb's friend Joye had it built with the hopes that her family might be enticed to come visit. But when a freak storm ruins the cardboard castle and leaves the harbor noticeably Large Duck free, the Peach family has to come together to make all of their dreams for the week come true.
While the books do make more sense in order, they are definitely still worth reading in any order as each book is a separate adventure. This family is full of zany travels, adventures, and support for each other. Lots of fun for any age.
March 31, 2025
It's the 1st summer that the Peaches are running the B&B, and it's going to be a busy one with the Festival of Ships coming up and the accompanying World's Largest Rubber Duck, food truck festival, and cardboard castle. Each sibling has their own role. Not a great story, but I still enjoyed it, even not having read books 1-3. It did take 2/3 of the book to get to the mystery element, which is way too long for most. I only picked up this book because of the giant rubber duck on the cover. Turns out I've visited the World's Largest Rubber Duck that this story is based on. For fans of The Penderwicks, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, To Catch a Thief, and other family stories.
January 7, 2024
A super fun adventure for the Peach family we’ve all grown to love! See what happens when the Festival of Ships arrives in Duluth, complete with the World’s Largest Rubber Duck. Lots of fun, so many adventures, AND a mystery that the Peach kids are determined to solve. MG readers and beyond will love this book!
March 24, 2024
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Spending time with this family is so much fun. The siblings are quite busy with a full house at their B&B due to a festival that’s in town, and they have a mystery to solve as a humongous rubber duck disappears. It’s a very entertaining story, and I hope more adventures are forthcoming.
Spending time with this family is so much fun. The siblings are quite busy with a full house at their B&B due to a festival that’s in town, and they have a mystery to solve as a humongous rubber duck disappears. It’s a very entertaining story, and I hope more adventures are forthcoming.
January 8, 2024
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-ARC of the fourth installment of The Great Peach Experiment. I have long loved the Peach family, and this book didn't disappoint. I love each of the Peach kids, and they each have their moments to shine in this one.
February 26, 2024
I love this family and it is fun to follow them on another adventure! Readers will be excited to spend time with the Peaches again as they construct a cardboard house and search for a really large missing duck. It is a great addition to the series.
DRC received from Edelweiss, Plus.
DRC received from Edelweiss, Plus.
May 24, 2024
This was probably the best one besides the first one.
November 14, 2024
so good must read!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews