Hmmm......

"Duck Skates" does have a lot going for it. A lot. It's a fun way to do variations on counting to five. (The predominant one is 3 2). It also talks about how there are ten of something (think five ducks 2 mittens each, etc.) And the illustrations are colorful and delightful.

I just don't love this book like I want to. There is disobedience as a major theme to drive the tale. (Which I didn't quite catch until my second read through). My kids in storytime also didn't react to this as I wanted them to either.

So needless to say, this will not be a reread. ( )

Five little ducks head to the local pond for some skating and winter fun in this picture-book from author Lynne Berry and illustrator Hiroe Nakata. As they gain a surer footing on the ice, they engage in other games, skating into a pile of snow, having a snowball fight, and so on. Eventually they head home for some warm food and a snooze by the fire...

The first of four picture-books featuring these five ducklings from Berry and Nakata, Duck Skates is a cute enough book, pairing a rhyming text with colorful artwork. Some of the passages would lend themselves to counting games, and I would imagine that the book as a whole would make an engaging read-aloud selection. All that said, it didn't leave a strong impression on me, despite my fondness for wintry scenes. Picture-book readers looking for cute stories about winter activities might want to give it a try, particularly if they enjoy rhyming texts. ( )

A rhyming story with cute enough illustrations but I didn't feel like it really grabbed the kids. Looking at it again, I think it might be better for one on one sharing rather than storytime. That would give kids time to see all the details in Hiroe Nakata's watercolor and ink drawings. I do love the minty color palette Nakata used.

Worked fine for the four-year-olds as a shorter wrap-up story at the end of storytime. Not their favorite of the day, but it still held their interest.

Used for St. John's Preschool Let It Snow! storytime 12/1/09.
Used for Snow Storytime for four-year-olds at Light of Christ Preschool 1/4/11. Used for 3-5 yo storytime at Sunshine Early Learning Center 11/16/11. ( )

Pictures were ADORABLE, but the text didn't hold my attention--although it did have a little quirk to it so maybe it would grow on me ( )

Am I turning into an old lady or is a picture book geared toward preschoolers in which the main characters cheerfully ignore a stop sign on ice on a pond and suffer no consequences a bad idea? Other than that, the book is cute enough, nothing special. ( )