Publisher Description

A funny and philosophical story in which a duck with a limp and a blind chicken search for adventure and answers to some of life's big questions. By a bestselling author/illustrator pair.With themes of friendship, difference, leadership, courage—and not taking yourself too seriously—this chapter book for independent readers includes full-color illustrations throughout. Thoughtful readers and listeners will enjoy both the bright, funny dialogue and pondering life's big questions, making Duck's Backyard an ideal read-aloud and philosophical conversation starter.A duck spends her days limping around her backyard with the help of a crutch until one day a blind chicken stumbles in, lost, and persuades the duck to embark on an adventurous journey. The duck will guide the chicken; the chicken will steady the duck's wobbly leg. They leave together for a place where their most secret wishes will come true. The pair come upon astonishing obstacles along the way—a wild forest, a cavernous gorge and many differences of opinion. The chicken starts to wish she'd taken a guide dog rather than a duck! When the two finally arrive at their destination after all the hardships, they realize that their own backyard plus a little imagination offers as much adventure as a whole world.Duck's Backyard is ideal for confident early readers—to laugh and think a little about people and friendship. It is also an excellent read-aloud for theatrical parents.From the author/illustrator pair of the popular Meet at the Ark at Eight."A simple story for philosophical listeners, who will ponder the opening statement: 'The goal is in the way'." Kirkus ReviewsTranslated from the German edition by Helena Kirkby.

Author Biography

Ulrich Hub trained as an actor and now lives in Berlin, Germany. He works as a director for stage and writes plays, screenplays and children's books, which have won numerous awards.Jörg Mühle was born in 1973 in Frankfurt am Main and studied at the Offenbach School of Design and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. He has been a freelance illustrator since 2000, and held a temporary professorship at the Fachhochschule in Mainz. Today, he lives in Frankfurt where he works as a freelance illustrator for book publishers, magazines and newspapers. He wrote and illustrated Tickle My Ears, Bathtime for Little Rabbit and Poor Little Rabbit.

Review

"This deceptively simple book's philosophical tone and sophisticated vocabulary make it ideal for older, practiced, and thoughtful readers or listeners (it makes for a solid read-aloud, too)." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Perseverance, friendship, and imagination at the core, this would make a great read-aloud." -- National Library of New Zealand, Best Children's Books of 2023
"Empowering, heartwarming and inspiring, this story will help children to set goals and believe." -- School Reading List, UK
"Lyrical and rhythmic, this fast and urgent story is bold about examining the rocky parts of relationships." -- Foreword Reviews
"Absolutely hilarious and philosophical, this is a great chapter book." -- Funny favourites of 2022, Readings, Australia

Promotional

"Ulrich Hub's funny dialogue sparks in this comical two-hander, and Jörg Mühle's illustrative details are full of personality—like the simple zigzag leg of his limping duck."  Rachel Lawson, Publisher

Review Quote

"A lonely duck with a 'wonky leg' longs for a friend but hesitates to venture into the world. One day, a self-centered, blind chicken wanders into the duck's backyard and quickly decides the duck will support her on an adventure to the 'place where all our secret wishes come true.' They progress in fits and starts. Sometimes the chicken leads; sometimes the duck is the brave one. Together, they conquer a scary black forest, cross a ravine on a narrow plank, and climb the highest mountain in the world--or do they? In a final test of their friendship, the chicken stumbles on a secret that casts the adventure and their friendship in a totally new light. This deceptively simple book's philosophical tone and sophisticated vocabulary make it ideal for older, practiced, and thoughtful readers or listeners (it makes for a solid read-aloud, too). Brief lines of orange text signal transitions and possible chapter breaks. Illustrations, all bold and abstract, are spare but are both strategic and impressive, anchoring the pair's emotional journey and clarifying the shifting leadership roles. Images of gnarly black trees, a brilliantly blue mountaintop followed by white pages (all that is visible amid the mountaintop clouds), and a canyon in earthen colors and wild brush strokes add welcome bursts of visual drama. A simple story for philosophical listeners, who will ponder the opening statement: 'The goal is in the way.'"--Kirkus Reviews

Feature

Bright, funny dialogue and an ideal read-aloud Themes of friendship, difference, imagination, courage Full-color illustrations throughout the chapters Author/illustrator pair of popular chapter book Meet at the Ark at Eight Illustrator of the internationally best-selling Tickle My Ears

Description for Press or Other Media

National Publicity Campaign, National Review Attention, Special Publicity Mailing to Children's Media Outlets

Details