Books with title Little Quack's Bedtime Book and Audiocassette Tape Set

Henny Penny's sky-is-falling tale has been retold often enough that few probably even remember its source material--but that doesn't stop another retread, this one surprisingly conservative in its story-telling liberties, by Margie Palatini and dignified illustrator Barry Moser. Little Chucky Ducky was just drying off from a swim when he "heard the ground grumble. He felt the ground rumble. And then, with a stumble, Chucky Ducky went down in a tumble!" With that, Chucky Ducky takes off: "'Why, it's a quake!' he quacked. 'I have to warn my friends!'" So then Lucy Goosey, Brewster Rooster, Vickie, Nickie, and Rickie Chickie, et al., receive frantic and noisy warning. Eventually, a "wormy weasel"--a "sneaky," "very hungry," and "lying, conniving, wily" weasel--steps in to take advantage, cleverly disguised as Herman Ermine. Will the fowl and their farmyard friends find the true source of the seismic surprise before they end up as "one big banquet buffet"? For sure, the wacky Palatini does better with less restraint, and when she's teamed with an illustrator less precise than Moser (of the Pennyroyal Caxton Press edition of The Holy Bible). But surely Earthquack! is what it is, and accomplishes its goals with sufficient poise and skill.

In another delightful episode in the Penguin Pete series, papa Pete proves to be a real 1990s dad, letting mom sleep while he takes Tim out for a fun-filled winter adventure. Mischievous little Tim bombards Pete with snowballs, rides on an old dogsled, tumbles down a hill, and goes for a swim with some seals. The lighthearted fun turns a bit more serious when a blinding snowstorm separates Tim and Pete, but Tim shows the strength of the father-son bond and the unwavering trust he has in his dad by not panicking and remembering his father's advice: "If you ever get lost, stay right where you are and I'll come and find you." Pete's winter wonderland is beautifully depicted in soft pastel washes of lavender, gray, blue, and green with occasional splashes of sunny gold and orange. This endearing father-and-son team will warm a child's heart on the coldest winter day.

When Little Penguin hatches, he is covered with downy gray feathers, but his father assures him that, "One day you will be an Emperor of the Ice like me." On their long journey across the big ice plain, Little Penguin forgets his father's warnings to stay close and soon gets lost. Not only that, but he also realizes that he is losing his feathers and is afraid he will freeze. All's well in the end, however, when the little animal is reunited with his parents. Wood weaves some information about the life and habits of Emperor penguins into this short tale. Boey's finely detailed pen-and-ink and pastel illustrations are done primarily in grays, blues, and yellows. This charming and gently informative story works nicely as an introduction to Antarctic life.

Thompson's Mama Duck and her ducklings return in a tender tale about things that go bump in the night. As Mama Duck readies her little ones for slumber, an assortment of sights and sounds alarms them. With infinite patience, she discloses the mundane sources of the frightful occurrences, reassuring her ducklings that they are simply observing the nighttime patterns of familiar objects. When Little Quack reveals the greatest fear of tots of any species, questioning why the night is so dark, Mama's thoughtful response is bound to resonate with readers of all ages. Anderson's sumptuous full-bleed illustrations are in deep evening hues, with the acrylic medium lending a rich texture to the paintings. As always, he draws each duckling with distinctively individual flare, from daisy hairclip to punk sticky-up. Youngsters will readily identify with the ducklings' anxieties and find themselves soothed by Mama Duck's explanations. The gentle cadence of Thompson's tale coupled with Anderson's rich illustrations makes this an ideal candidate for the last story of the night.

While his mother is busy, Little Chick plays different games with each of his friends in the barnyard. He runs with the geese, bounces with a lamb, jumps with a pony, and rolls with a pig, but his best adventure comes when he returns home to find that his mother's eggs have hatched and he has a whole brood of new siblings to play with. The story skips along on bouncy language and sound effects, and Brown's exuberant, bold illustrations complement the text perfectly. The brightly colored animals cavort against dazzling backgrounds of rusty orange, lime green, and sky blue. A variety of textures creates added visual interest. A terrific read-aloud for toddler storytime, this buoyant tale will inspire young listeners to echo Little Chick's closing sentiment as he cavorts with his brothers and sisters: "Yippeee!"