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Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings
This charming introduction to colors, shapes, and animals has been delighting children all over the world for ten years! There is a surprise on every peek-a-boo page, where textured shapes magically turn into colorful creatures perfect for toddler's touching.
32 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1995
3 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Van Fleet
32 books46 followersMatthew Van Fleet's innovative books have been introducing children to basic concepts for over twenty years. His unique formats invite toddlers to touch, press, pull, lift and even sniff as they explore colors, shapes, numbers, letters, opposites and more. His books include the #1 New York Times bestsellers TAILS and DOG as well as the New York Times bestsellers CAT, ALPHABET, and HEADS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 29, 2020
Just a fun book - did not guess right once.
January 19, 2021
For ten years this has been a big favorite of my grandchildren so I can't begin to count how many times I've read it, but at least twice in the past couple of weeks. The little ones love touching all of the different textures.
December 3, 2011
A favorite book of my son.
July 4, 2016
A gorgeously illustrated books, with some neat textures on each page, each illustrating a different color and shape. My DD loved it from ages 18mo - 3yo.
September 15, 2016
My boys loved this book — particularly in the 2-3 age range when they're really learning their shapes, colors, and animals. Frequently requested for bedtime reading.
January 14, 2019
A great tactile book for young ones with vibrant colours.
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February 28, 2017Title: Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings
Author: Matthew Van Fleet
Genre: Children’s Book, Peek-A-Boo
Theme(s): Teaching toddlers about colors, textures and animals.
Opening line/Sentence:
Circle…
Ducklings
Bumpy Brown ….
Toads
Brief Book Summary:
This is a peek-a-boo book for younger audiences. The book explores colors, shapes, and textures of different animals.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: From Publishers Weekly
As he did in One Yellow Lion, Van Fleet once again exhibits a knack for creating animal characters of unusual personality and expressiveness-and he adds to their appeal in drafting them to teach simple identification lessons. Here his captivating cast lurks behind die-cut fold-out panels on each recto page, on which can be seen a labeled shape (circle, crescent, oval, etc.) that has a textured surface. The left-hand pages provide identification clues: thus, a "Woolly White" fleece-like rectangle turns out to be the body of a sheep, grazing with six of his pals. In a particularly comical scene, a "Sticky Pink" line is in fact a frog's tongue, as eight amphibians become entangled in their efforts to catch flies. Like Lion, the book's design is cleanly handsome, with stark white spreads showing only the tactile shape, three words of text and small artwork tied in to the hidden picture. The concluding spread folds out accordion-style to display the entire menagerie; on the reverse is one final surprise formation that any gymnastic troupe might envy.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: The Hornbook:
PS series. Each page contains a textured colored shape that becomes part of an animal when the flap is opened: 'Bumpy Brown Triangle' becomes 'Bumpy Brown Toads.' Though the shapes don't relate well to the animals, this companion book to 'One Yellow Lion' (Dial) is engaging, easy to use, and relatively sturdy.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I agree that the animals don’t correlate well with the shapes, although the textures are used appropriately. I also think the books layout is also attractive along with the illustrations. The hidden pictures are keep the reader engaged within the book.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book uses illustrations to help readers find out about animals and their textures. It also teaches basic shapes to readers. Words are simple and easy for younger readers. The hidden pictures are interesting and engaging.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book would be used more for younger students and their first books. Students would probably be read allowed this book and be able to point out the animals and their textures. Students can help the readers open the pages and guess what animals are on the next page.
Author: Matthew Van Fleet
Genre: Children’s Book, Peek-A-Boo
Theme(s): Teaching toddlers about colors, textures and animals.
Opening line/Sentence:
Circle…
Ducklings
Bumpy Brown ….
Toads
Brief Book Summary:
This is a peek-a-boo book for younger audiences. The book explores colors, shapes, and textures of different animals.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: From Publishers Weekly
As he did in One Yellow Lion, Van Fleet once again exhibits a knack for creating animal characters of unusual personality and expressiveness-and he adds to their appeal in drafting them to teach simple identification lessons. Here his captivating cast lurks behind die-cut fold-out panels on each recto page, on which can be seen a labeled shape (circle, crescent, oval, etc.) that has a textured surface. The left-hand pages provide identification clues: thus, a "Woolly White" fleece-like rectangle turns out to be the body of a sheep, grazing with six of his pals. In a particularly comical scene, a "Sticky Pink" line is in fact a frog's tongue, as eight amphibians become entangled in their efforts to catch flies. Like Lion, the book's design is cleanly handsome, with stark white spreads showing only the tactile shape, three words of text and small artwork tied in to the hidden picture. The concluding spread folds out accordion-style to display the entire menagerie; on the reverse is one final surprise formation that any gymnastic troupe might envy.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: The Hornbook:
PS series. Each page contains a textured colored shape that becomes part of an animal when the flap is opened: 'Bumpy Brown Triangle' becomes 'Bumpy Brown Toads.' Though the shapes don't relate well to the animals, this companion book to 'One Yellow Lion' (Dial) is engaging, easy to use, and relatively sturdy.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I agree that the animals don’t correlate well with the shapes, although the textures are used appropriately. I also think the books layout is also attractive along with the illustrations. The hidden pictures are keep the reader engaged within the book.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book uses illustrations to help readers find out about animals and their textures. It also teaches basic shapes to readers. Words are simple and easy for younger readers. The hidden pictures are interesting and engaging.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book would be used more for younger students and their first books. Students would probably be read allowed this book and be able to point out the animals and their textures. Students can help the readers open the pages and guess what animals are on the next page.
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January 18, 2016I love this book. It is a great introduction to shapes for young kids because it is interactive. This book is full of color and texture which would keep any child's attention. It's also a great book for learning about animals and what they look like. The animals are covered by a flap; therefore, this book is great for a guessing game and some fun.
Another thing I love about this book is it brings back memories. I read this book as a kid and fell in love with the fuzzy yellow duck, bumpy brown toad, and woolly white sheep. I loved feeling the animals textures and guessing which animal had which skin.
I would definitely recommend this book. Especially to moms with little children looking for an entertaining and interactive book.
Another thing I love about this book is it brings back memories. I read this book as a kid and fell in love with the fuzzy yellow duck, bumpy brown toad, and woolly white sheep. I loved feeling the animals textures and guessing which animal had which skin.
I would definitely recommend this book. Especially to moms with little children looking for an entertaining and interactive book.
July 14, 2014
Van Fleet works in an under-appreciated medium. Children's touchable board books are not a glamorous field. As far as I know there are no prizes given at esteemed gatherings, although the books themselves often acquire a Cheerio patina. Like diapers, they are an important aspect of rearing young humans, but adults don't really like to talk about them.
Van Fleet is a genius.
Van Fleet is a genius.
April 6, 2018
Most touch-and-feel books are cheaply done and don’t offer much variety in texture. This one has all kinds of texture! I especially thought that it was neat that there was a sticky texture (a frog’s tongue)! The “story” leaves a bit to be desired, but my six month old daughter cares more about textures than stories!
October 23, 2008
My favorite gift book for children who are just starting to be exposed to being read to in an interactive way ... the next step after board books. Very interactive - lots of fold outs and different textures.
June 19, 2015
This book does just what it should. Simple and easy. Gets the attention of my 3 month...and for someone just learning how to get her hands on things she wants...she gets her hands on this one pretty well.
May 23, 2017
I was looking for a book with multiple textures for my infant son and this was the best one I found in the bookstore. It offers the greatest diversity of textures, from traditional fuzzy ones to sticky and scratchy ones.
November 28, 2007
A great book for toddlers with lots of great textures to touch.
February 15, 2008
This is another children's favorite! My kids love touch and feel on each page, along w/ the shapes each pages shows.
October 17, 2008
Fantastic! My favorite book. I like it so much that I'm busy tearing out all the pages. You can TOUCH the duck feathers. Better yet, you can EAT the duck feathers when Mommy isn't looking!
July 19, 2010
Interest Level Grades PreK - 1
Genre: Nonfiction
Themes: Shapes, Textures, Colors
Uses: 1)Help teach shapes
2)Textures good for kinesthetic learners
Genre: Nonfiction
Themes: Shapes, Textures, Colors
Uses: 1)Help teach shapes
2)Textures good for kinesthetic learners
November 15, 2010
The only problem is that it just asks to be torn apart, so just about every page is taped together. But it's such a fun book and Lacey loves it.
June 22, 2011
Cute touch and feel book for toddlers.
February 28, 2016
This is better than pat the bunny. I am giving to my granddaughter for an Easter basket gift.
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August 3, 2017ISBN: 0-8037-1759-8
List Price: 13.99
List Price: 13.99
October 2, 2020
One star off for being softer cardboard pages instead of thick book board.
March 21, 2019
This book is generally unremarkable.
Likes: I like that there are four layers of information for kids to learn on each page: A texture, a color, a shape, and (when they flip the flap) an animal. The textures themselves are fun, too (though my husband is a little skeeved out by the sticky last page).
Dislikes: The illustration style wasn't my favorite, but that is just a preference thing. The flip-up pages are a tad flimsy (pretty standard for flip-the-flap books). Also, I will never not be upset when Furry Gray Square does not flip up to be Furry Gray Squirrel. Seriously? Can anyone say "missed opportunity!"
Likes: I like that there are four layers of information for kids to learn on each page: A texture, a color, a shape, and (when they flip the flap) an animal. The textures themselves are fun, too (though my husband is a little skeeved out by the sticky last page).
Dislikes: The illustration style wasn't my favorite, but that is just a preference thing. The flip-up pages are a tad flimsy (pretty standard for flip-the-flap books). Also, I will never not be upset when Furry Gray Square does not flip up to be Furry Gray Squirrel. Seriously? Can anyone say "missed opportunity!"
February 24, 2024
Fun facts about shapes and colours
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August 6, 2024Shape 24
November 7, 2024
3.5 stars
May 14, 2008
Comments on the Story:
There really is not a story to this book, although at the end the picture tells a story of the animals building a tower. However, this book uses language well to show what is on each page. I really liked how well the adjectives given goes along with both the sensation felt when touching the texture presented and the animal the shape represented on each page.
Recommended Uses for the Book:
For younger toddlers this book could be used to introduce colors, to let them feel the textures in the book, and to show them animal pictures. For older toddlers, this book might be fun to have them use their imagination and guess what the fuzzy, yellow, circle might be for example. I can even see this book being used for that exact guessing purpose in a kindergarten and preschool setting. Even though the language is pretty simple, children may have a lot of fun trying to guess what these three clues represent. The guessing nature of this book, however, is an activity for older children (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten) and would likely be more difficult for young toddlers. Thus, for toddlers, I think that this book is best used in home settings where children can more easily feel the textures and repetitively hear the shapes and colors. For older children (pre-k and K), this might be a good book for a story hour by letting them guess what is behind the flip-up.
There really is not a story to this book, although at the end the picture tells a story of the animals building a tower. However, this book uses language well to show what is on each page. I really liked how well the adjectives given goes along with both the sensation felt when touching the texture presented and the animal the shape represented on each page.
Recommended Uses for the Book:
For younger toddlers this book could be used to introduce colors, to let them feel the textures in the book, and to show them animal pictures. For older toddlers, this book might be fun to have them use their imagination and guess what the fuzzy, yellow, circle might be for example. I can even see this book being used for that exact guessing purpose in a kindergarten and preschool setting. Even though the language is pretty simple, children may have a lot of fun trying to guess what these three clues represent. The guessing nature of this book, however, is an activity for older children (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten) and would likely be more difficult for young toddlers. Thus, for toddlers, I think that this book is best used in home settings where children can more easily feel the textures and repetitively hear the shapes and colors. For older children (pre-k and K), this might be a good book for a story hour by letting them guess what is behind the flip-up.
May 20, 2009
Good shapes, textures and colors book for babies.
February 9, 2016
I adore touch and feel books especially ones by Van Fleet.
August 1, 2015
Textured shapes turn into creatures with the lift of a flap. Slightly trippy and easily rippy. This book lives at Grandma's house.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews