The Duck Never Blinks

by Alex Latimer

Can you make a duck blink?

Probably not.

But you can try, in this irreverent and hilarious staring contest between you and a duck that never, ever blinks.

Do you see that duck over there?

That duck doesn't blink.
Even if you look away then look back real quick.
Even if you tell it a really funny joke!

Perfect for fans of interactive stories like Do Not Lick This Book and Duck! Rabbit! , The Duck Never Blinks will have kids and adults alike bawling with laughter as they spend time with this one very sly duck.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2023

About the author

Alex Latimer lives near the border of a national park so when not writing or drawing, he spends his free time shooing baboons out of his lounge. The Boy Who Cried Ninja is his first book for children. He lives in South Africa.

Reviews

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure what's happening here but it's funny as hell. For kids who love the tone of I Want My Hat Back.

[Shawna Fender · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLINK DARN YOU! YOU KNOW YOU WANNA! XD

[Moony Lupin]

Honestly, I didn’t know that this book was a child’s picture book. I saw it on Libby as “able to borrow,” and so I hit “borrow.” Took me literally 5 seconds to read it. Pretty cute though ngl

[Deklan Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! A very fun sort of copy on the ‘don’t let the pigeon drive the bus’ model of book, but original enough that I was entertained.
Fun and sassy.
Amazing the story is told with all of three drawings.
Had me giggling, a fun three-way story for reading with little ones.

4.5 stars, nothing artistically impressive aside from the clever minimalism and graphic design specs, and not the most original in terms of where it takes the idea of a three way conversation between the narrative authority figure, the child being read to, and a mischievous bird, but a good artist knows how to take the ball from a master and run with it, so, fair play. Highly enjoyable read.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator of this story has never seen a duck blink. Readers are encouraged to try to make the duck blink with tricks such as funny & sad stories, yelling and looking away and back quickly. Nothing makes the duck blink. Eventually the narrator gives up and walks away.

Children absolutely love stories that give them an opportunity to point out that something important happens the minute an adult looks away. This book will not disappoint.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik vond het meer een zeemeeuw/meeuw dan een eend, maar een grappig verhaal met leuke interactie tussen de lezer en degene die dus naar de meeuw sorry eend aan het staren is, al de hele dag trouwens. Van het laten schrikken van de eeuwd tot gewoon doorstaren. Ik moest enorm lachen om dit boek vooral om hoe stoïcijns de meend was. De illustraties waren gewoon echt geweldig. Simpel maar effectief en ik vond het leuk hoe de achtergrond veranderde van kleur. Het einde was erg leuk gedaan!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked to see more attempts to make the duck blink.
Classroom ideas: younger students can contribute ideas for funny words to help at the duck.
Older elementary can design their own jokes.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and kids love it for storytime

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

l o l

[Evelyn Evertsen-Romp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarisch!

[deedee watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

goofy

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading age
3 - 6 years

*Sunshine State Reader 2024

[Tara DuBose-Schmitt]

In concept this is much like the Pigeon books by Mo Willems.

[Nicole Darrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly, interactive, inventive illustrations. Loved this one.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Move over Pigeon. Duck will give you a run for your money.

[Aimée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Ente blinzelt nicht. Ob wir es zusammen mit dem Autor schaffen, sie zum Blinzeln zu bringen? Ein herrlich abstruses Kinderbuch und ein großer Spaß für Jung und Alt. Ich möchte bitte einen Kunstdruck von der Ente, damit ich mich immer kaputtlachen kann.

[Samantha Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Duck Never Blinks by Alex Latimer is a delightful and charming picture book that takes young readers on a whimsical journey into the world of ducks—and the delightful mystery of why they never blink. With its captivating illustrations, clever storytelling, and humorous tone, this book is sure to capture the attention of both children and adults.

The story centers around a curious and inquisitive little duck who is, quite naturally, very interested in the fact that ducks never blink. This seemingly small observation sparks a series of fun and absurd questions and adventures, as the duck sets off to explore why this is the case. Along the way, the duck encounters a variety of other animals, each of whom offers its own unique (and often humorous) perspective on the duck’s question.

Latimer’s writing is witty and lighthearted, filled with playful language that encourages children to think and wonder. His use of repetition and rhythmic phrasing makes the book incredibly engaging, with a cadence that will have children excited to read along. The story has an almost riddle-like quality to it, inviting young readers to guess what might happen next or come up with their own theories about the mysterious blinking habits of ducks.

The illustrations by Alex Latimer are an absolute highlight of the book. The artwork is colorful, lively, and filled with personality. The characters, especially the duck, are wonderfully expressive, adding an extra layer of emotion and humor to the story. The animals’ reactions and interactions are so engaging that they practically jump off the page, making the book an immersive experience for readers.

The theme of curiosity is woven seamlessly throughout the story, and it gently encourages children to ask questions and seek answers. The little duck’s journey of inquiry serves as a reminder that asking “why” can lead to fun and unexpected discoveries, and sometimes, the most important answers are found through exploration and imagination.

While the book’s premise is simple, it offers a fun way for children to engage with the natural world and think critically about things they might take for granted. The humor and whimsy make it a joy to read, but the underlying message of curiosity and exploration is one that resonates with readers of all ages.

In conclusion, The Duck Never Blinks is a charming and entertaining read that combines humor, curiosity, and vibrant illustrations in a way that will captivate young readers. It’s a perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf and an excellent conversation starter about the wonders of the animal world and the joy of asking questions. With its playful narrative and delightful artwork, Alex Latimer’s book is a must-read for fans of imaginative and thought-provoking children’s literature.

[Lisa - OwlBeSatReading 🦉📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this in the post from children’s book website ‘Toppsta’ to read and review with my (almost) three year old granddaughter. I shall edit my review with her input once I’ve read it with her, but in the meantime ‘The Duck Never Blinks’ made me and my husband really laugh out loud!

‘You see that DUCK over there?

I’ve been watching that duck
all day and it hasn’t blinked.’

I couldn’t wait to read through this because the illustrations are so comical, the expressions on the ducks face are priceless, and the story has this dry humour that is simple, catchy and very quick to read.

So next time you see a duck on your travels, take the time to stop and have a closer look. Does it blink? Does it even have any eyelids? Does it know you're staring at it? Don’t make it too obvious, you’ll make it feel uncomfortable…

‘The Duck Never Blinks’ is possibly one of the funniest stories I have on my ‘kid lit’ book shelf! Us adults had a great time reading, now just to find out what my granddaughter thinks!

As always, HUGE THANKS to ‘Toppsta’ and publisher, Andersen Press for sending us a copy, it is greatly appreciated.

5 ⭐️ Brilliant. I loved it.

[Hannah DCamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded to 4 because this made me want a print of that freaking duck and his staring eyes.

This didn't quite meet my expectations (such as they were), but it is decently interactive so it'd be a fun one to read with a real child. The art is amusing despite its simplicity.



*"You see that duck over there" has the same energy as "Hey kid, you wanna buy a watch?" but maybe that's just the way I read it
**Hey you know who else doesn't blink

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book. Alex Latimer combines very simple drawings with surprisingly funny text. The duck in question appears on every page, almost always with the same expression. The narrator is trying to make the duck blink, starting a bit of a staring contest between the duck and the reader. From telling jokes and sad stories to screaming silly words, to outright begging, the narrator is determined to make the duck blink. I can see this being very fun for reading aloud, whether one-one-one or with a storytime crowd.

[John Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read aloud. Of course, it is a good idea to read it before sharing it! - there are a few key moments when the audience (or class) can react to the book as it is read, before the reader picks up on what they see. Who, or what will get the duck to blink? Jokes, sad stories, and silly words just don't seem to work! In the spirit of "The Book With No Pictures" and similar crowd pleasers by Herve Tullet, Bill Cotter, and Richard Byrne, Alex Latimer has created a book that can be shared again and again.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, interactive, with all the “don’t let the pigeon drive” feels. That darn duck just won’t blink! Can we help the narrator get the duck to blink? Can we catch the duck blink? Can a duck even blink?

A little cheesy, very well-illustrated, and just fun. With a sweet last couple pages to draw the reader in. I like this little duck.

Read as a potential nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin love interactive books like this one. It's about a duck who never blinks...or do they?...Throughout the book we see if the duck blinks or not and we try different things the book tells us to do to see if the duck blinks. I read this for storytime and the kids had a blast with this.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

THE ENDING WILL BE SPOILED FOR YOU IF YOU READ AHEAD.


The duck eventually blinks (if you REALLY wanted to know).

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that put me into the story as I learn that this duck will not blink no matter what I do to try to break its poise. If you need a belly laugh book, this is it! The illustrations are simply perfect!



I made the happy mistake of reading this with a class before I read it myself. I cried so much I was crying and that was so enjoyed by my students.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY fun and pretty funny. This is a book with a good level of interaction for a larger story time group and I think it could be a lot of fun to share with preschoolers. Kind of a Book with No Pictures type of silly.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I wrote a picture book, I would want to write one like this.

Outrageous.
Tons of interaction for the kids.
Laugh out Loud Funny.
Something adults and children will love.

Thank you Alex Latimer--you've done it again!

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 1/3

Ducks, Interactive, Print Awareness

Be careful to engage the audience and act through the narrator's side as much as reasonable. At the end, perhaps 'go to sleep' and sleep turn the page.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The perfect call back read aloud about a duck that just won't blink.

It's goofy but works as pure entertainment and of course, then kids will be challenging each other to staring/blinking contests for sure.

[Maybee Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, interactive picture book that will get kids laughing. I found this funny, and entertaining as an adult and look forward to sharing it with our child patrons. This will make a great read aloud in the classroom or story time setting.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny for one read, which is well worth some laughter, but once the gag is out of the bag, there’s no story to warrant another reading. Illustrations depict the duck in the same position, so there’s not much to look at either.