David Shannon

A duck decides to ride a bike and soon influences all the other animals on the farm to ride bikes too.

Duck on a bike

Sarah Sammis

In my son's life time it seems that the children's book market has been flooded with duck picture books. I've reviewed a number of them: Duck for President, Ducks in Muck, Five Little Ducks, Hide-and-Seek Duck, and One Stuck Duck.

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon is in the style of Doreen Cronin's farm books (see Duck for President and Click Clack Moo, for example). Duck here is the ring leader in a series of bicycle thefts. After Duck borrows a snappy red bike, the other farm animals follow suit after initially poo-pooing his desire to go for a ride. As silly as the concept sounds, it works brilliantly. The bright illustrations bring story to life with humor and just enough plausibility to work.

Like so many children's picture books, the story builds on repetition: first duck telling all the animals that he wants to ride the bike and them laughing at them. Then one by one the animals take up riding too. It comes to a silly conclusion as the animals run the risk of being caught. Were this by Doreen Cronin, Duck and the others wouldn't care if they were caught. In fact they would probably either demand their own bikes or a time share on the available ones.

Melody Izard

Wonderfully illustrated story about adventurous, sneaky, agile barn animals.

Clare

Aimee Joy

One day down on the farm, Duck got a wild idea. "I bet I could ride a bike," he thought. He waddled over to where the boy parked his bike, climbed on and began to ride. At first he rode slowly and he wobbled a lot, but it was fun! Duck rode past Cow and waved to her. "Hello, Cow!" said Duck. "Moo," said Cow. But what she thought was, "A duck on a bike? That's the silliest thing I've ever seen!" And so Duck rides past sheep, horse, and all the other barnyard animals. Suddenly, a group of kids ride by on their bikes and run into the farmhouse, leaving the bikes outside. Now ALL the animals can ride bikes, just like Duck!

Duck on a bike

Reviews