Duck Soup

Grab a spoon and pull up a chair.                  

THREE PROS
*Any time you can have a fun story also promote a vegetable-heavy diet you've got literary gold
*I enjoyed the various facial gestures Jackie Urbanovich painted on the animals throughout 
*Having the carrot slices mirror a duck's feet was a cool optical trick

THREE CONS 
*As much as I liked the book, at its core it's a story about cooking the main character -- something certain parents might not want to expose their children to
*On the page showing all of the soups Max the Duck has made in the past, why would Jackie U. have four images of culinary failures and one where a rabbit is enjoying his soup if the point is he is not a good cook
*Whatever Max is throwing into the pot on page one is not reflected in the ingredients listed in the text

ONE DAD'S OPINION
Much like duck on a menu, this book is a delicacy that you wouldn't want to sample every day, but would rarely turn down if it was offered to you in the right setting.  [This coming from a guy who does not find that type of poultry appealing in the least bit.]  In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, maybe the best place to keep Duck Soup is in the kitchen for your little bird to read while you are preparing dinner.  Bon appetit!                                  

BUY / Borrow / Donate / Destroy


1 comment:

Alyssa said...

Dear Erik,


With summer around the corner and kids of out school, everyone needs to be reminded how important and rewarding reading can be outside of the classroom. I know your readers, young and old, will LOVE the new book, "What about Daisy?" based on the real life story of Daisy, truly the most inspiring dog in the world, and her 3-legged partner in crime, the cat, Louie.

“What about Daisy?” is an inspiring children’s story about a deaf/blind rescue dog in search of her forever home. With the help of her canine rescue mom, Ms. Didi, her two fairies, Bella & Beva and a three legged cat named Louie, the adventure to find Daisy her loving home will entertain and warm your heart.

The background story…
While shopping for pet food in 2008, Maryam Faresh and her partner Bruce Meade saw a sign hanging on the wall with a picture of a white puppy with spots and strange looking eyes. The sign read, “Blind and deaf puppy needs home.” Bruce looked at Maryam and without a word, called the number on the sign. Immediately, they went to meet the puppy – within minutes, they knew they had to have her.

Maryam and Bruce have already experienced a “special needs” animal with their cat, Louie. At only 10 months old Louie was in the process of having half of his back right leg amputated while his back left leg was broken and in a cast. Now a three-legged wonder, Louie, has a special bond with his pet siblings Daisy and Olivia.

The first 6-8 months of having Daisy was tough. Not only was she a puppy, but she was puppy who couldn’t see or hear! Maryam and Bruce figured out that they needed to be patient and it would be up to Daisy to let their love and care in. This patience paid off and in 2010 Daisy inspired the children’s story, “What about Daisy?” to come to life.

Today, Daisy is truly a wonder. She can go up and down stairs, plays with Olivia and Louie, can swim and even goes to schools with Maryam to teach kids the importance of loving everyone, even if they have special needs, unconditionally. To date Daisy has visited and taught more than 1,500 students throughout California.

What people are saying:
• "This inspiring children’s story about a deaf and blind rescue dog in search of her forever home will entertain and warm your heart." - Adopt-a-pet.com
• "The book offers opportunities for young readers to raise questions about special needs, and increases awareness in the areas of self-acceptance, acceptance of others, and the importance of friendship." - The Children's Book Review
• "What about Daisy is a touching, heart warming story that will make your heart smile and tears well up in your eyes." - She-scribes.com
• "I just bought this book for my 5 year old daughter and it is already one of her favorites. It is rare to find a children's book that talks about such important life topics of acceptance and love for all creatures and human beings but remains at a level even a young child can relate to and understand. It is a story that should be shared and read by all - young or old." - Jessica C., Amazon.com customer
To see a video of Daisy, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpyzqWIZBLo&feature=related (careful, you might cry or get the chills!!)

Please let me know if you’re interested in speaking with Maryam or reviewing What about Daisy? I would be happy to send pictures, testimonies and more video along!


Thanks for your consideration and I hope to hear from you soon,

Best,
Alyssa
loftasst@gmail.com