Lost and Found Ducklings

by Valeri Gorbachev

Moo! Grr! Awoo! Fun animal sounds in a story where a community bands together to help two adorable ducklings.

Peep-peep! Brother and Sister Duck are lost. Everyone must help! Moose will try to call Mama and Papa Duck with his earth-shattering bellow. Moooo! Wolf will use her piercing howl. Awooo! and Bear his Grrr! What finally attracts Mama and Papa, though, are the sweet peep-peeps of their little ones. A story about cooperation, community, and noisy fun! Hooooot!

Ink and watercolor paintings are masterful, charming, and joyful.

Perfect for fans of Moo, Baa, La La La!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Family, Juvenile, Birds

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

(from harpercollins.com)

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Brother Duck and Sister Duck are given new nets, they immediately set out into the wide world to explore. Their chase leads them deep into the woods, where they find themselves lost, and darkness setting in. Here they are seen by Ms. Owl, whose hooting alerts the other woodland animals to the crisis. Each one uses their voice to try and call Mama and Papa Duck. But will they hear...?

Author/artist Valeri Gorbachev seems to specialize in goodhearted animal stories - thinking og the recent Big Little Hippo , or Doctor Nice - and Lost and Found Ducklings is the latest example. The narrative here is engaging, with its repetitive structure and the fun onomatopoeia of the various animals' calls, while the artwork is cute and appealing. I gave this one my "duckling in danger" designation, created after I noticed how many stories there were about ducklings who get into all kinds of trouble. Recommended to young animal lovers, as well as to Valeri Gorbachev fans.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brother and sister duckings venture off to explore the woods with their new nets. But before too long they’re lost and cannot find their way back home. The forest full of animals come together and begin calling for Mama and Papa Duck, but ultimately it’s the “Peep! Peep! Peep!” of the ducklings that bring the parents to them. This one is about community, but also about the bonding of children and parents. The artwork was created with watercolors, gouache, and ink.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost and Found Ducklings by Valeri Gorbachev. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2019. $18. 9780823441075

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

The Duck siblings hear their parents tell then to stay close and not get lost, but of course they promptly forget and wander into the woods. The forest creatures try to help by howling and growling and hooting to draw the Duck parents’ attention, but Mama and Papa Duck can only hear the cries of their own little ones.

Everything was pretty cute – up until the last page. I really thought the Ducks would at least say “Thank You” to the animals – instead they just brush the animals off. Did not like that end.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Brother and Sister Duck receive two nets, they set off to catch whatever they can find. They move further and further from home into the woods, drawn by a butterfly and a frog. But once they realize they are lost and don't know how to get back home, they depend on various animals for help. A moose, a wolf, a fox, and a bear all do their best to send out cries for help, but the ducklings' parents arrive to take their children home, having heard their sounds but none of the others'. Parents and little ones will be able to relate to the ending since there is nothing quite like the sound of a loved one in distress. Created with watercolors, gouache, and ink, the illustrations are brimming with the various animals' personalities, and all those calls for help make this book ideal for a read aloud for someone who doesn't mind getting into the spirit of things and bellowing like a moose or howling like a wolf.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

When ducklings go on a hunt with their new nets (peep) their parents remind them to stay close to home (quack). But of course the frogs and the butterflies lead them deeper and deeper into the woods until they are quite lost. The other forest animals try to help them by calling out in their loud voices... grooooowl, awooooooo, and eeeeeek. But they are so loud that the ducklings' peep peep peep cannot be heard. Luckily for them, their parents are hunting for them and ignoring all the other animal sounds, mother and father duck are able to follow the peep peep peep of their ducklings and find them safe and sound.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two little ducklings receive gifts of butterfly nets which lure them away from home. Soon they find themselves lost. How will they find their home again? A variety of animals make loud sounds, hoping to draw their parents to them. It is the soft sound of their own duckling's voices, however, that proves the key to their rescue. This is a sweet story with watercolor and ink illustrations. It begs to be read aloud and would give any story time reader a lot of fun having the children join in on the animal noises.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little ducklings get lost out in the woods. A bunch of animals try to help them (a fox who howls loudly, a moose that bellows, etc). The mama and papa duck eventually find them and say it was the peeps of the ducklings that they heard loudest of all. Awww. Some fun repetitive elements (the different animals making noises) would make this cute for preschool storytime.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister and Brother Duckling get lost while playing with their new nets. The animals of the forest try and help them get the attention of their parents by using their unique cries to call out to them.

Read this book out loud...and use animal sound effects. My 4-month-old granddaughter was entranced.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

While chasing butterflies with their new nets, brother and sister duckling become lost in the forest. Every animal sends out a vocal sound to help Mother and Father Duck find their way to the two lost ducklings. As loud as the other animals were while trying to help, only one sound was audible to the ducklings parents.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When two ducklings are lost in the forest other animals get involved in calling for help. Ultimately it is the ducklings own quiet peep that their parents hear above all others and helps to bring them home. Sweet tale of the parent child bond with wonderful watercolor illustrations.

[Alex Lindsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book and cute illustrations to match. The beginning can be a little much to get through since it goes "he said, he said, he said" a lot, but overall ok. Might recommend for kids who like animal noises.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kids will have lots of prompts to make animal sounds in this simple story of two ducklings who get lost in the forest.

[Raven Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely sweet message - simple and touching. Valeri delivers stellar illustrations as usual. Nice book to add to a children's library.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of two lost ducklings, this is a well told tale and will be a delightful cacophany for story hours everywhere.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duck siblings get lost and forest pals help them make their way back to their parents.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two duck siblings set off to explore nature with their new nets. Can anyone find them when they get lost? Cute. Preschool and up

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read aloud for Mother's day or any day! Illustrates the love and understanding parents have for their children.

[Slaa!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me a little emotional tbh. So sweet!!!

[Norkett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of animals sounds in an effort to be found!