reschool-Grade 1--While out for a walk, Mama Duck and her five babies meet a stranger who claims that he is also a duck, despite his "wicked foxy nose" and matching smile. Not fooled for a minute, Mama puts him to the test, watching closely as he tries to imitate the birds' behaviour. After catching him drooling over one of her offspring, she leads the group into a river, where all of the ducks pop back up to the surface and the intruder sinks like a stone. Filled with bouncy rhymes and alliteration, the text is delightful to read aloud. The tension builds throughout the story, but the tone remains light, and there is never any doubt that Mama Duck has things firmly under control. The double-page watercolour paintings feature the earthy tones of the farmyard setting. Soft grey and black lines add detail and a sense of movement to the pictures. Humorous moments are highlighted, as the fox tries to waddle, chokes down a mouthful of bugs, and holds his nose while jumping into the water. His appearance goes from sleek and sinister to damp and defeated, while Mama Duck never ruffles a feather. A perfect choice for storytime, this enjoyable tale pairs well with others about foxes outfoxed, such as Mem Fox's Hattie and the Fox (Bradbury, 1987) or Pat Hutchins's Rosie's Walk (Macmillan, 1968).
Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.