Duck, Duck, Goose
Written and illustrated by Tad Hills
Schwartz & Wade; $15.99
40 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0375840685

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

In this sweet tale of the challenges of friendship, kids will easily recognize the situation poor Goose finds himself in when his best friend Duck meets a new duck, and one who likes to show off and win at that. Goose is eager to show Duck the butterfly that landed on his head. He is surprised to realize the brash new quacker who follows on Duck's heels is his new friend Thistle, who really makes a terrible first impression, and even more stunned that Duck thinks the three will be great friends.

Duck has taken quite a shine to Thistle, who's energetic and bubbly and full of ideas for new games -- that she can win, of course. Thistle's showy ways soon get tiring for those around her though. Anything Duck and Goose can do Thistle can do better -- from simple addition to holding her breath, from standing on her head to walking across a log. And if there isn't any competition, well, then Thistle just isn't interested: "Then why bother?"

Goose soon decides he's had enough of this nonsense and wanders off by himself, leaving Duck alone to realize that maybe Thistle really is a bit too much. Her indifference to the gone Goose gives Duck pause, and Duck takes off to find his old friend. The pair quickly find their footing again and with a bit of quick-thinking, Duck and Goose find a game that they're glad to let Thistle win.

Tad Hills' gorgeous oil paint artwork in Duck, Duck, Goose is characterized by soothing blues and greens, muted brush strokes, and soft angles. The faces of Duck, Goose, and Thistle are really expressive and reflect the narrative closely, making the book as enjoyable for young readers to look at as it is to read. There's a good mix of picture sizes and styles throughout the book, making it visually interesting from cover to cover. This is Hills' second book featuring the pair after the New York Times best-selling Duck & Goose.

Hills handles the tough subjects that arise among the three like competitiveness, jealousy, insecurity, and reconciliation with aplomb and a gentle touch that keeps them accessible and understandable for young readers. The happy ending comes about through Duck and Goose's resourcefulness and serves as a good example of problem solving for kids (and beating Thistle at her own game doesn't exactly hurt either).

The dialogue is funny and true -- Hills' characters say what kids would probably be thinking ("Nice to meet you, Thistle," Goose honked. "How long is she staying?" he whispered to Duck."). The characters' emotions shine through, in picture as well as dialogue, from Thistle's boundless confidence to Goose's indifference to Thistle's antics to Duck's tempering of his enthusiasm after Thistle's attitude toward Goose.

The overall narrative of Duck, Duck, Goose is terrific. Even though Thistle is boastful and competitive, she's still well-meaning, fun-loving, and likeable. The suspense that Hills' builds as Duck looks for Goose in all their favorite places and doesn't find him is palpable, and the relief that the two friends feel once they get back to playing their usual games will be shared by young readers, too.