Ducktails

Janette Oke's Animal Friends #6

by Janette Oke, Brenda Mann (Illustrator)

Presents the adventures and misadventures of Quackery the duckling

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Christian Fiction, Juvenile

131 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1985

About the author

Janette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this trip down memory lane reading to my daughter. My mom read these to us as kids. My daughter really enjoyed the book and the story from a ducks point of view. I liked the morals and biblical lessons that are taught.

[Zielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Janette Oke's children's books. (also I always thought her last name was pronounced Janette O-kee XD) This book was well written. It's the story of a duck's life (told from the duck's perspective), from when he is born (I love that part!) to when he is older and having ducklings of his own. I was so sad about what happened to Zachary! (no more spoilers ;) ) Overall, this was a fun, cute, amazing book for young readers 8+.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute book, written from the perspective of a duck. From hatching one spring, through the adventures and perils of learning to walk, swim, and PAY ATTENTION to his parents, until the next spring when he builds a nest and watches his own ducklings hatch, it's just a cute story, quick and delightful read.

[Bethany Walters · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book absolutely traumatized me as a child. Don’t kill innocent animal characters in kid’s books!

[Viktoria Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Janette Oke's books. I have read them all at least three times each. I just read Ducktails to my five year olds. It was the perfect lesson book as one of my boys tends to run off. We talked about how worried Quackery's mom and dad would be if Quackery disappeared. We also talked about Zachary telling fibs. I love the life lessons of this book. I can't wait to read the rest of them to my five year olds. It has been a while, since my other boy is 12 now.

[Myra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved these books as a teen and young adult until I read Mrs. Mike by Freemont. I realized this author merely copied another author's work as her own without giving them credit. Plagerism!!! It really made me take another look at this "Christian" author. It really tarnish my love for this author. As a future educator, I loved this animal series but I could not purchase her books because that would be condoning her practice of stealing the work of others.

[LaceyD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed reading this to my elementary-age girls and reminiscing how much I loved this story when I was their age. An endearing tale of a duck's journey from hatchling to father of his own brood of ducklings, this book teaches some important truths about loyalty, honesty, and honoring parents.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bummer what happened to Zachary.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my personal favorites of these books . 2nd only to Spunky's Diary.

[Aaron J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid, read it several times

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories that take an animal and personify it

[Marilyn Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute book of a duck’s life from birth until his learning stage. A child would really love this book and has a really good lesson about obeying parents for their own safety.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute story is written from a young duckling's perspective. He beings his journey in an egg and ends a year later when he has his own little duckling family.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ducktails was the only book in this series by Janette Oke that I remembered decades later. It is narrated by a newly hatched duck, Quackery; the book follows his life for the first year. Readers meet Quackery, his mother and father, his brothers and sisters. The most memorable character, perhaps, is the obviously disobedient duck named Zachary. As a parable, I have a few tiny issues with the book. There was one scene in particular that forced things way too far: comparing the farmer who owned the farm, and "owned" all the animals on the farm, to God. Quackery, I believe, is asking why the farmer doesn't try to interact with them and tell them what to do. And his mother tells him the farmer is all about letting each animal make his or her choices. It just felt awkward. The big message of Ducktails is simple: be obedient, stay safe, or else you'll end up suffering the consequences. Zachary's fate is certain but not described for readers.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of her children's book that I ever read. I loved the lesson -- obey your parents and don't try to be a follower of the world. GREAT FOR KIDS and a gentle reminder to adults.

[Joy Olliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

so cute

[Cws]

JENF-Oke