Ducks Run Amok!

by Jennifer E. Morris

Ducks take over one turtle's pond in this hilarious rhyming tale!

When a flock of ducks arrives at an unsuspecting turtle's pond, the turtle is mistaken for a green duck and can't seem to convince anyone otherwise. Can the turtle find a way to take back the pond and get some peace and quiet once more?

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Jennifer is an award winning illustrator and children’s book author. She has illustrated picture books, children’s magazines, greeting cards, party ware and educational materials. She authored and illustrated four books for Scholastic. The best selling of which, "May I Please Have a Cookie?" has sold over one million copies.

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get this - there's a pond, and in this pond floats a green duck. A green duck with a hard shell. The green duck keeps saying it isn't a duck, but what else could it be?



And then a flock of other ducks flies over, sees the pond, sees the green duck, and they land by the pond, and join the green duck.

The green duck keeps shouting it's not a duck. The flock of other ducks attract even more other ducks. The green duck is not pleased.



A simple story told in tight verse, with funny drawings, about being noticed and about wanting a moment of peace. Call me a duck, but I'm in.

(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cartoon-like illustrations add to the humor. The turtle's expressions convey how he's feeling about the duck invasion and the narrator calling him a 'green duck.' Sunny yellow endpapers to echo the 'green duck's' underside and ducklings. A palette of primary and secondary colors, nothing outrageous -- that's left to the ducks. The font for the main text is straight forward for emerging readers and with rhyming words and supporting illustrations to help decipher the story. The speech bubbles use a font that is perhaps not so welcoming in places with the capital letters.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A turtle is enjoying the solitude of a quiet pond when a flock of noisy ducks settle in for a wild and crazy duck gathering. They cheerfully accept the turtle as a green duck with a hard back and stubby nose with no down or fluff although the turtle tries to convince them he's not a duck. "But ducks don't look at shell or feather. Ducks are ducks -- they flock together." A silly rhyming picture book that will be fun to share.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A turtle is floating serenely in his pond when some ducks arrive. And more ducks. And even MORE ducks. The narrator of the story implies that turtle is a green duck but turtle disagrees. Of course, the ducks get hungry and decide to eat ... pie! Ducks - being ducks - eventually fly away and so turtle is saved from the chaos. Or is he?
Delightfully silly and fun.

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just plain fun. Rhyming text tells the story along with illustrations with conversation bubbles. "Green duck" (a turtle) swears he is NOT a duck, but he does like some of the ducks' activities--such as snacks. Word play--and pies--are thrown around. When "the flock heads off/to parts unknown," green duck thinks he'll get some alone time, until-- well, you'll have to see what's next.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A flock of ducks takes over a pond where a turtle is napping and swimming. But, when they bring sweet cream pies, the ducks might not be so bad after all. It's a funny rhyming story where you might be able to predict the last word in each stanza. The simple text and physical size of the book would make it a good fit for beginning readers.

[Deborah Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his pond invaded by ducks and a relentless narrator, a turtle's life is upside down. So how is he going to survive? Rhyming text and great illustrations make this the perfect book for both early readers and for adults to read to younger children. Particularly love the party and food truck ducks.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A flock of ducks take over a turtle’s pond.

I’m not sure if this is supposed to a metaphor for how overtourism destroys an area and drives out the locals or how migration pushes the natives out of their habitat forcing them to move to a different location. Either way, I didn’t like how the turtle was driven his home by oblivious and self-entitled others.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, a green duck is relaxing in the pond when a whole flock of ducks arrive and create chaos. Wait a minute! That's not a green duck: that's a turtle, and he'd like his peaceful day back, thank you!

This silly book has a great rhyme scheme and a lot of humorous moments. There isn't a strong plot, but it is an amusing happening, and I had fun reading it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO. FUNNY! I just love the rhymes, the silliness, and the disgruntled “green duck” (who is actually a turtle). One picture shows children, who are diverse. Great for advancing readers or to read aloud to younger kids.

[Amy Goldstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite literally a laugh out loud picture book. Rhyming text, colorful comicy pictures, a confused narrator and an exasperated turtle make this a storytime winner!
Bonus, the author teaches you how to draw the ducks on their webpage!

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of like green duck. He just needs to relax a little.

[Justin Banger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny! Ducks should always run amok!

[Katelynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a funny early learner! Love the inclusion of rhyming AND speech bubbles.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively and laughable story told in simple rhyming text with page after page of issues for turtle (I am not a DUCK!) to overcome and resume a peaceful life in his pond.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor turtle in his peaceful pond when it is invaded by ducks. One catastrophe follows another.
Read this aloud to a small group of age 7's who loved the craziness.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A flock of ducks swoop down, and take over a turtle's peaceful pond. Will the ducks ever leave, or stay forever with their rowdy ways? This humorous rhyming tale is a fun read for early readers.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny story about the chaos that happens when a flock of ducks takes over a turtle's small pond.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy turtle need I say more

[Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember why or how I put this on hold but it was amazing and I'm so glad I did.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the sounds of kids laughing?
Need a great read aloud to keep 'em in stitches?

Welp. You need Ducks Run Amok!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. The kids thought it was absolutely hilarious

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable early reader. Humorous but not as funny as some of the other books in this field of early readers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, but really unoriginal in terms of the subject matter. I would recommend this book as an early reader to a first grader, maybe some kindergartners that are more advanced.

3.5 stars

[Rikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is funny! I was laughing out loud when I was reading it. Can’t wait to read it with my students soon!

[LS Johnson]

2024 Monarch

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, funny book about a poor turtle having his pond overtaken by ducks.