Firefighter Duckies. Simon and Schuster, publisher
WEE-OOO-WEE-OOO-WEE-OOO! Here come the Firefighter Duckies!
Frank Dormer is at it again with this quack-out-loud silly story, full of wacky charm and perfect for little duckies of all dispositions.
The Firefighter Duckies are brave and strong. They rescue:
Gorillas in chef hats!
Whales in trees!
Dinosaurs on bicycles!
But when the emergencies requiring their attention become a little overwhelming, the Firefighter Duckies realize that they don’t have to be brave and strong to be helpful and kind.
*STARRED REVIEW* "In an inspired bit of ultra-dramatic silliness, Dormer (The Sword in the Stove) introduces a trio of steely rescue ducks. They wear enormous red hats and are ready to save the day, no matter how ridiculous the challenge.... The nonstop action unfolds in distilled spreads that make the most of the far-fetched cast and many improbable disasters.... Understandably, the firefighters become a bit overwhelmed, and at book’s end they’re grabbing some well-deserved shut-eye. Readers will be having too much fun to follow suit." (Publishers Weekly, March 2017, starred review)
*STARRED REVIEW* "Ready and willing, the Firefighter Duckies are the ones to call when you find yourself in a sticky situation. Join our quacky heroes as they valiantly extinguish a fire started by an unhappy cupcake, rescue a weary whale from an angry tree, trim the hairy exteriors of a motley crew of monsters, and so on. While the excitement and peculiarities of their adventures mean there’s never a boring moment, there comes a time when even the Firefighter Duckies need some well deserved shut-eye. The repetitive structure of the story’s phrasing will have listeners joining in.... The use of thick black pencil strokes gives the illustrations a youthful and cartoonish feel, while the warm and mildly saturated oranges, yellows, and reds provide a silly energy and sense of urgency as the duckies move from one adventure to the next. Audiences will love the determination of the Firefighter Duckies, laugh at the unlikely emergencies, and learn that even our most beloved heroes need a break every now and then." (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 2017, starred review)
"Dormer provides a humorous take on the heroic nature of firefighters. Three bright yellow duckies...come to the rescue of a number of creatures: a gorilla whose chef hat is on fire, a whale in a tree, dinosaurs on bicycles, and other unlikely friends in need.... Repetition in the text aids early readers, who will soon be able to chime in with the refrain: “They are brave, they are strong.” Add in “They are helpful, they are kind,” and you have the whole plot, plus a life lesson to boot." (Booklist, April 2017)
