Ducks Away!

by Mem Fox

A delightful counting tale about a family of ducks from internationally bestselling picture book author Mem Fox and illustrator Judy Horacek.

Count along with Mother Duck as her ducklings try to waddle across the bridge. When a sudden gust of wind sweeps one of Mother Duck's ducklings into the river, she doesn't know what to do. With four ducklings on the bridge and one below, Mother Duck is torn as to which way to go. Suddenly, a second duck falls and Mother Duck grows more panicked. Should she stay on the bridge or fly down to her ducklings in the river? As she paces and frantically quacks, the remaining ducklings playfully plop one by one into the river until all of the siblings are happily floating along. Now that all five ducklings are safely in the water, Mother Duck flies down to join in the fun, relieved to have all her ducklings together again. Mem introduces young readers to the basic math principles of addition and subtraction.

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Storytime, Animals, Mathematics, Childrens, Birds

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2018

About the author

Merrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

Reviews

[Maxwell Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

My good friend Balynda gave me this book before I was even born. I liked the bright colours and I smiled when the first little duck was joined by another baby duck. One day I think I’d like to have a baby brother or sister, and maybe mummy can read to us together.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an instant hit with my three-year-old son. The story and illustrations are simple and cute, and just right for a three-year-old's attention span and interest. He currently asks for it every night, which is about the best compliment a child can give a picture book, no? Mem Fox does it again.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This creative team from Australia always hits its target, and this one also will make a big splash with the younger set. Not only is it fun to read or to hear read, but little ones will enjoy the anticipation as the mother duck and her five offspring head across that bridge. It will be great fun to watch as she is eventually joined by five ducklings, each of whom then ends up landing in the river while their mother watches helplessly. Eventually, she realizes that there's no point in her remaining on the bridge while everyone else is getting wet, and she joins them. The rhyming text and cartoon illustrations are pitch perfect, setting just the right tone for a read aloud. Some youngsters may enjoy counting the ducklings as they first join and then leave their mother while others may just be amused by the story and the mother's dithering about what to do.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clever book about numbers and cute little ducks.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Good for counting storytime.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

DUCKS AWAY starts off with a mama duck and her five little ducklings crossing the bridge. One by one, the babies fall into the water and the mom doesn't know what to do. The mom is divided until the last one falls.

DUCKS AWAY teaches children counting and counts up to five multiple times: as the ducklings walk across the bridge and as they fall. Ducks are adorable animals for children's stories and this book is perfect for those children who are learning to count. It also introduces them to basic addition and subtraction.


Final Verdict: DUCKS AWAY is a great and cute way to introduce counting to children. My little girl kept pointing at the ducks as I counted.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book on counting up to 5 and counting down from 5. You could even use it for simple adding/subtracting in a classroom. I felt like I kept expecting some kind of rhyming but then it didn't so it left me a little disappointed. (I'm a sucker for a good rhyming children's book.) Overall it was short and sweet.

Storytime Theme: Ducks

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, but lacked something for me. Maybe a rhyme? Maybe it just took too long?

At any rate, it's a cute way of teaching counting up to five, and back from five, and pointing out that two+three and four+one still equal five.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

So silly! I surely hope you mothers are more competent than this. But gosh I bet the little audiences roar with laughter when their preschool teacher reads this to them. And the tykes are getting an introduction to arithmetic, too, so that's cool.

Thank you West Duluth Branch Library.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toddler chosen book. We are into numbers around here. The repetition is annoying for the reader. The not all the time rhyming makes it interesting I guess, but it set me on edge.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this Mem Fox book and the illustrations are perfect colours and so engaging. Great for talking about numbers, bravery, and any other thinking topics for toddlers. Definatly on my bookshelf for repeat reads with the littles.

[Launna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably would have given this 3 stars but my children really liked it, so it gained another star.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a mother duck walks across a bridge, she is followed quickly by her ducklings who one by one fall into the water below after which she flies down to join them.

Although this book lacks the charm of Duckie's Ducklings: A One-to-Ten Counting Book, it is sweetly illustrated with bold lines and basic colors. It also teaches the basic math concepts of counting up and counting down.

Personally, I didn't like how mother duck helplessly watched her brood tumble off the bridge unsure of what to do. "'What should I do? Where should I go?" That may upset really young readers who count on their parents to protect them rather than panic in an emergency, but, on the other hand, since none of ducklings are frightened or injured, they may gloss right over that.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother duck begins to cross the bridge and one by one her ducklings follow her. As the last duckling begins to cross the bridge the wind picks it up and floats it to the river below. Each of her other ducklings lean over to see their sibling in the water and they all fall in. Meanwhile mother duck is on top of the bridge panicking. Eventually, with all of her children calling her, she decides to fly down to the water herself.

Darling book for storytime.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother duck crosses a bridge with her ducklings, all five of them! But then one of the little ducks is blown off of the bridge and down into the water below. Mother Duck doesn’t know what to do with four ducklings on the bridge and one down in the water. Then one by one, the other little ducks tumble down to the water. Finally, all five are floating below and they encourage their mother to join them and take the jump herself. This playful counting book merrily counts up to five in a natural way, then counts both up and down as ducklings move from bridge to water. It all feels so much a part of the story thanks to the subtle rhyme structure and the rhythms deftly created by Fox. The illustrations continue the simplicity of the text, and are just right to share with a group or with one child. A picture book you can count on! Appropriate for ages 1-3.

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – This is a cute little book that reminds me a lot of the Five Little Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed series. Instead of Monkey’s it is Ducks and they aren’t jumping on a bed, they are falling off a bridge.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has a nice little poem that helps the story to flow. It also has simple images that help the reader to follow along with the poetry in which the story is written.

I think that any child will enjoy having this book added to their book collection. It will also make a simple reader for children that are learning to read. I look forward to sharing this book with my little ones.

[Cornelius Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Momma Duck was crossing the bridge, with one, no wait two, maybe three, OK 4, just kidding, with 5 little ducklings, when all of a sudden one fell into the water and only 4 are left. Momma Duck doesn’t know what to do, and one by one each duckling ends up in the water and Momma Duck on the bridge? How will she get to her ducklings?

Mem Fox and Judy Horacek bring this visual counting book for toddlers! It’s a fun and engaging way to count up to 5, then subtract, it’s great for those looking to introduce some easy addition/subtraction math!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Momma Duck was crossing the bridge, with one, no wait two, maybe three, OK 4, just kidding, with 5 little ducklings, when all of a sudden one fell into the water and only 4 are left. Momma Duck doesn’t know what to do, and one by one each duckling ends up in the water and Momma Duck on the bridge? How will she get to her ducklings?

Mem Fox and Judy Horacek bring this visual counting book for toddlers! It’s a fun and engaging way to count up to 5, then subtract, it’s great for those looking to introduce some easy addition/subtraction math!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mem Fox and Judy Horacek have teamed up for a fun and funny counting book intheir new picture book, Ducks Away. Mother and her brood are happily on their way over the bridge until one of the ducks falls into the river below. Oh, no! What will mother duck do? This is one of those satisfying stories that will become an impetus for playing with words and phrases at home. For ages 2 - 6. Great for story time! We made a flanne board out of it!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another instant classic from Mem Fox! This is a very cute rhyming counting book about everyone's favorite creature to count: ducks. Pair this in a storytime with the "Five Little Ducks" song and you will have any crowd of preschoolers all-in.

Notes on representation: all of the characters are animals.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me alot of the five little monkeys that jump on the bed. One at a time the little ducks fall off of a bridge into the water below. The mother worries what she should do. Finally all the ducks have fallen into the water and then the mother duck has to go with them. Not overly entertaining, but a cute, easy read.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun way of audibly and visually counting up to 5 and down again.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and its playful tone. We get the chance to emphasize counting and the book is really sweet. I'd recommend this one, but I also don't see it being a book I would read over and over again for pure enjoyment. Other readers may disagree, of course.

For: readers wanting a counting or playful book.

Possible red flags: Characters in peril.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pattern story, counting story, beginning to read, Spring, subtraction by 1's. Recommended for preschool, Kindergarten. Compare with other duck counting books, falling out of bed counting books, and the popular children's song, "Six Little Ducks that I Once Knew."

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mem Fox and Judy Horacek hit the mark again with this cute picture book about ducklings. Not quite as iconic as finding the green sheep, but I do enjoy the dramatic mama duck. Go with the flow, indeed.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Expected a bit more--maybe a bouncier rhyme or something throughout?--not sure, but this just didn't wow. Not trying to be harsh; this just wasn't all that. Perfectly serviceable book for a storytime.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this at ALA Midwinter. My son, who is 3 1/2 had us read him this book three times tonight. The colors are wonderful and I was helping him count the ducklings. Our son had so much fun with this book, and so I have to say it is wonderful.

[Madison Wills]

Has rhythm and repetition. This is great for kids to begin to read with adults, gradually on their own.

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2. Cute for preschool storytimes.