Module 6: The Duckling Gets a Coookie!?

Book cover image:

Book Summary: When the duckling receives a cookie (with nuts) simply by asking politely for it, the pigeon is shocked, and commences a tirade lamenting all the different things he did not receive, even when he asked for them. However, when the duckling offers him the cookie, the Pigeon is pleasantly surprised and accepts as humbly as he is able.

APA Reference of the book: Willems, M. (2012). The duckling gets a cookie!? New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Impressions: The first time I read this book, I was reading it by myself, and I thought it was fairly entertaining. Later the same say, I took it with me to babysit and read it about five times to the kids I was babysitting, one of whom kept up a running commentary on the pigeon's actions. Both ways of reading the book showed me what an effective and entertaining book it is to read. The illustrations provide an easy way to read the moods of the characters and the pigeon's increasingly indignant antics at not receiving a cookie make it amusing both that he doesn't realize the he would only have to ask politely himself to receive a cookie, and that he doesn't realize just how lacking his manners are. At the end of the book, the reader realizes the duckling's ulterior motive for giving the pigeon the cookie, as he requests another cookie, this one without nuts.

Professional Reviews: "Pigeon is back, in all of his indignant, passive-aggressive glory, overwrought this time at one gross injustice: a cute little duckling is now on the scene and has been rewarded a cookie (with nuts) for doing nothing more than asking for it politely. Pigeon pulls out all of the usual pigeon stops—coy glances, cartwheels, and crocodile tears—in the hopes of securing a cookie for himself . . . and it works! The duckling shares. As with the other titles in the Pigeon series, simple pencil drawings on pale, blank backgrounds focus our attention on the characters’ interactions. Willems has an extraordinary ability to convey immediate, deep characterization with a few deft strokes. He knows, too, how to spread the action across a picture book, carefully managing the panels and page turns to ramp up the drama. Fans will delight at another outing, and the protagonist’s indelible pigeonality will welcome newcomers to the club.

 

Barthelmess, Thom. (2012). [Review of the book The duckling gets a cookie!?, by Mo Willems]. Booklist, 108(15), p. 76. Retrieved from: http://www.booklistonline.com/

"K-Gr 2--Duckling, familiar to readers of The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (Hyperion, 2004), asks politely and receives a cookie with nuts. Incredulous, Pigeon rants about the many things that he has asked for and failed to receive--a chance to drive the bus, hot-dog parties, a walrus, one more story, his personal iceberg, etc. In classic Pigeon fashion, the lovably emotional bird relates the unfairness of it all through a hilarious monologue until finally exploding in clenched-fist (or, rather, clenched-wing) anger. But every pigeon has his day, for the duckling offers him the cookie (never mind that Duckling doesn't like nuts), and he accepts the gift with gracious humility. Confident, un-ornamented strokes characterize Willems's seemingly simple illustrations. Postures and expressions are spot-on, conveying the nuances of Pigeon's feelings and the comedy in his passionate behavior. While just plain fun to read aloud, this book is an excellent conversation starter on the topics of politeness and making reasonable requests. This meta-tale that references the gamut of the Pigeon oeuvre will please fans and newcomers alike."

Damron, Jayne. (2012). [Review of the book The duckling gets a cookie!?, by Mo Willems]. School Library Journal, 58(3), 139-140. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/

 

Library uses: This would be a good book to use with younger students to discuss how to read expression when looking at characters. The pigeon and the duckling both show a wide variety of expressions and students can help identify what emotions the characters are showing in individual pictures. The story also lends itself to being a funny lesson in manners.