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French Ducks in Venice
by
Garret Freymann-Weyr,
Erin Mcguire (Goodreads Author)
A magical, lyrical, beautifully illustrated tale about friendship and healing--and the joys and risks of staying open to love, even in the face of loss.
Siblings George and Cecile live in Venice, California, but think of themselves as French ducks. They have an important friend, Polina Panova, who conjures magical dresses of thread, silk, and velvet . . . of grass, pieces o...more
Siblings George and Cecile live in Venice, California, but think of themselves as French ducks. They have an important friend, Polina Panova, who conjures magical dresses of thread, silk, and velvet . . . of grass, pieces o...more
Hardcover, 56 pages
Published
December 13th 2011
by Candlewick
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Really!? This completely missed the mark for it's intended picture book audience. The illustrations are pleasant and pretty and have that Disney-ish misty, romantic feel but the story line is completely off kilter.Young single adult seamstress of fairy tale dresses lives with young single adult charming movie star who early on takes his suitcase and walks out of her life and said everyday "princess" must pick up the pieces of her shattered existence and move on without Hollywood "prince" or any...more
Apr 01, 2012
Karen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
someone who just broke up with their boyfriend...
Can you like a book and not really know what to think of it? That's my dilemma here. The ducks and the heroine Polina are friends, and the ducks try to sooth her loss when her movie star boyfriend dumps her .... juvenile fiction? Still the perplexing problems of loss at the heart of the book, are universal - especially how answers - the whys of the heart - aren't always forthcoming, and so people (or ducks) deal in their own unique ways. Strangely charming. Give to a child whose parents separate...more
French Ducks in Venice is a book unlike any others I have read this year. It combines elements of fairy tale fantasy with the realities of loss and empathy, and creates this unique world where talking ducks make sense, and strawberry jam is the key to a beautiful dress. Erin McGuire's illustrations beautifully depict the environment of the canal. There are some truly gorgeous scenes featuring wide expanses of sea and sky that are so atmospheric I felt as though I could reach out and truly touch...more
I enjoyed this story of two French ducks who live in Venice California, though from the cover I was afraid it was going to be a Disney Adventure. It wasn't, rather it was a lyrical and sweet fable about love and loss and carrying on. I'm not sure who the target audience for this one is, though. It's too long for the picture-book crowd, too babyish looking for the chapter-book people... I don't know who will pick it up. I do know that they will be glad they did.
Apr 15, 2012
Sara
added it
I was shelving books the other day and noticed this one, so I took it home, thinking that it might have something to do with france, however on the very first page it says that the story does not take place in Venice, Italy, but rather Venice, California and that the ducks are not actually french, but instead only "think" they are french...
I have to say, overall I was not very impressed...
I have to say, overall I was not very impressed...
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I am really not sure what to make of this book. It really isn't a picture book for young children. It is quite long and at times seemed to be a bit slow. It is somehow a bit of a fairy-tale, and a bit of a story of loss and empathy. I almost passed over this one because the front cover had a Disney illustration feel and then I realized it wasn't. Will need to ponder this one some.
This a really a story for older children, not that younger ones wouldn't enjoy it. It is a lovely story about a friend emotionally losing a partner and learning to cope with it. Children in families of divorce might find a special connection to this book.
A very beautiful picture book with lovely illustrations. While the topic is a little bittersweet for young ones (a young woman in love loses the man important to her), the lush illustrations more than make up for it. Gorgeous!
I really loved how this story started out. The language and the writing style really captivated me. However I felt a bit lost by the end - like I wasn't quite getting the profound meaning of the book.
I don't know who the intended audience as it is not really a picture book but yet not quite a chapter book. The story is similar to a modern day fairy tale and loss and sadness play heavy roles.
This book was quite lovely, both in illustrations and in story. It deals rather spectacularly with loss, and I found myself wishing I had read this before my first relationship began.
A sweet, magical, strange little tale. This is in the chapter book section but it is really a picture book with a longer story. Great for k-2nd graders.
Love this story. It is not like anything I've ever read. The writing reminded me of Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant, one of my favorite all time books.
Pretty illustrations. Good message of dealing with loss and empathy. However it was too wordy. Don't know who the intended audience is for this.
A charming fairy tale but the illustrations remind me too much of a Disney production.
The best part of this book are the illustrations. Erin McGuire is a talented artist.
Any interesting story with a lack luster ending and beautiful illustrations
Lovely fairytale-like romance to read aloud or for older kids to read alone.
Do you know someone who has had her heart broken? Buy her this book.
neat little book, but not sure who the audience is?
A modern fairy tale-love story, with hints of Disney.
an absolutely charming little fairy tale aimed for older readers. The ducks aren't ducks, or French, and the Venice is the one in California, and the princess is, well ... All in all, very satisfying indeed for the right reader, who was clearly me.
May 09, 2013
Shannon
marked it as to-read
Feb 21, 2013
Igraine
marked it as auf-gar-keinen-fall
Jan 31, 2013
Madeleine - Tei
marked it as to-read
Dec 08, 2012
Karin
added it
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Garret Freymann-Weyr (née Weyr) was born and raised in New York City. She inexplicably went to college in North Carolina (UNC-Chapel Hill) and, just as inexplicably, got an MFA in film (NYU). She now lives outside Washington, D.C. with her husband. She has written five books for young adults, one of which, somewhat inexplicably, won a Printz honor. Her work has been sold to countries including the...more
More about Garret Freymann-Weyr...
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