Five Little Ducks

March 1, 2017

PreS-Dean puts a twist on an old favorite, the song "Five Little Ducks," with Pete the Cat leading the way. He suggests that the ducklings splash and swim, but only four little ducks jump in. Each time Pete does a different activity, he loses a duck along the way. Unfortunately, the framework of the song/rhyme does not work. The flow of the story is choppy, and the rhyming text is forced and does not make sense. For instance, "Pete the cat said, 'Let's jump and hop.' But only three little ducks popped up." The tale lacks continuity and cohesion. Illustrations are bright and cheery, but the series has lost its luster. Fans of Pete will check it out but won't ask for it again. VERDICT A marginal purchase at best.-Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 27, 2011
In his previous outing, blue cat Pete proved his ability to roll with the punches when his white sneakers were accidentally stained red. Sporting the red treads for the first day of school (they match his electric guitar), Pete is again unflappable. "Pete has never been to the library before! Does Pete worry? Goodness, no! He finds his favorite book and sings his song." School setting aside, little differentiates this book from its predecessor. There's humor to be found in the deadpan expressions of Pete and his fellow cats as he sits with friends in the lunchroom, plays at recess, and solves math problems on the board. But whether the simple refrain and Pete's blasé attitude actually assuage anxious schoolgoers is another story. Pete's song is available as a download. Ages 3â7.

October 14, 2013
Appropriately enough, Pete’s latest includes some valentines for readers: a large foldout poster, a sheet of stickers, and 12 punch-out cards. In the accompanying story, Pete starts out as a skeptic: “Valentine’s Day is not cool,” he tells his friend Callie. She responds that it’s her favorite holiday, and Pete needs no more convincing than that—as soon as he gets home, he starts making homemade cards. By book’s end, Pete has distributed valentines throughout his community; he forgets about Callie, but she’s understanding: “Hanging out with you... that’s way better than any card.” Just like Pete skateboards his way through town, he slides through these minor Valentine’s Day dramas effortlessly. Ages 4–8.

February 17, 2014
Pete the cat’s yellow, dead-eyed stare is always good for a laugh, and it’s even better when he’s wearing big white bunny ears, a buck-toothed rabbit snout, and a puffy white tail. It’s all in a day’s work for Pete after he agrees to lend the Easter Bunny a hand (“Find the eggs. Paint the eggs. Hide the eggs,” reads the note Pete discovers in his otherwise empty Easter basket). The story itself is quite thin—after painting the eggs, Pete quickly hides them and receives a “#1 Helper” ribbon from the Easter Bunny himself for his efforts (“Helping others can be lots of fun!” reads the tacked-on closing message). Readers are more likely to be drawn in by all the extras tucked into the pages, which include stickers, a foldout poster, and a dozen perforated Easter cards that can be removed and given away. Ages 4–8.

July 1, 2017
"Five little ducks went out to play, / With one cool cat leading the way." Readers familiar with the classic kids' song can guess the rest: Dean's popular feline creation loses ducks one by one until he has no playmates left. Talk about no harm, no fowl: although the rhymes' rhythms can falter, the wry, tie-dye-bright art justifies this rendition.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)