Amazon Review
A lazy and fat farmer spends all day in bed, eating chocolates and reading the newspaper, while his poor duck has to do all the work on the farm. One evening, the exhausted duck collapses in tears, to be comforted by chickens. The farm animals are very fond of the duck, and outraged by the farmer’s behaviour, so they hatch a plan.
This engaging cross between Cinderella and George Orwell’s Animal Farm, won the Smarties Book Prize, was British Book Awards Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year and was also Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal. (Ages 4 to 8)–Lisa Gee
A Big Book edition is also available.
Review
Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations speak volumes… They’re a perfect match for Martin Waddell’s equally excellent text. * Books for Keeps * Marvellously expressive pictures and a satisfying text make this the outstanding picture book of the year. * The Sunday Times * This book will be bought for years. * The Independent on Sunday *
Synopsis
“Farmer Duck” is an amusing fable. Martin Waddell’s awards include the Smarties Book Prize for “Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?”, and “Farmer Duck”, the Emil/Kurt Maschler Award for “The Park in the Dark” and the Best Books for Babies Award for “Rosies Babies”. His other books include “The Big Big Sea”, “Owl Babies”, “Let’s Go Home Little Bear”, “John Joe and the Hen” and the “Little Dracula” books. Helen Oxenbury won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1979, and her books include “Animal Allsorts” and “Curious Creatures”. She has three times been Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and three times won the Smarties Book Prize, for “Farmer Duck, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and “So Much”.
From the Publisher
Reviews!
“Exceptional…a book to linger over. Martin Waddell’s text is simple and spare but it carries a powerful message.” – CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF THE YEAR “Marvellously expressive pictures and a satisfying text make this the outstanding picture book of the year.” – THE SUNDAY TIMES
From the Back Cover
Children need to read at home every day to practise the reading skills that they have been taught. Here are some tips to help make Farmer Duck part of your child’s reading routine:
- choose a time when you and your child both want to read, sit somewhere comfortable and quiet.
- before you begin to read, get a “feel” for the book by looking at the cover, front and back and talking about it.
- let your child hold the book and turn the pages. Look at the pictures.
- look for the little details–they help the child to understand what the book is about.
- let your child “read” the book to you by talking about each picture.
- read the book again and again if you both enjoy it.
If used to support learning at home, Farmer Duck can help first readers achieve the targets for Key Stage One English: Reading. (Ages 4 to 6 years) —Amanda York
About the Author
Born in Belfast, Martin Waddell was an aspiring football player for many years, before turning his hand to writing. He is now widely regarded as one of the greatest living children’s writers, and has over 220 published titles to his name. He is perhaps best known for Owl Babies, illustrated by Patrick Benson and Farmer Duck, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury; as well as the 1989 Kurt Maschler Award-winning The Park in the Dark and the Little Bear series, both illustrated by Barbara Firth. In 2004, Martin received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his lasting contribution to children’s literature, the highest career recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children’s books. He lives in Newcastle, County Durham.
Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time. Her numerous books for children include Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, as well as her classic board books for babies. She won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Her most recent picture books include the critically acclaimed There’s Going to Be a Baby, the first book-publishing collaboration between her and her husband John Burningham, and Charley’s First Night and When Charley Met Granpa by Amy Hest. Helen lives in London.
A hardworking duck is rescued from life with a lazy farmer in this award-winning picture book classic from Owl Babies author, Martin Waddell, and Bear Hunt illustrator, Helen Oxenbury.In this Kate Greenaway Medal and Kurt Maschler Award-winning modern classic, two of the most celebrated picture book creators of our time tell the story of a hardworking duck, who has the very bad luck of living with a lazy farmer. The duck cooks and cleans, tends the fields and cares for the other animals on the farm – and all while the famer lies in bed! That is until the day the animals decide to take action … and come to the rescue with a simple, but heroic plan.