The Duck and the Owl

by Hanna Johansen, Käthi Bhend (Illustrator)

In this fable, a cantankerous duck and a grumpy owl square off over the right way to eat, the right time to sleep, and the right place to perch. Neither think the other is right about anything, and each clearly has a blind spot about the other's way of life.

Genres: Animals, Birds, Picture Books

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Hanna Johansen, eigentlich Hanna Margarete Meyer, ist eine Schweizer Schriftstellerin.

Hanna Johansen studierte nach dem Besuch des Gymnasiums Altphilologie, Germanistik und Pädagogik an den Universitäten in Marburg und Göttingen. Von 1967 bis 1969 lebte sie in Ithaca, im amerikanischen Bundesstaat New York. 1972 zog sie mit ihrem damaligen Ehemann, dem Schriftsteller Adolf Muschg, nach Kilchberg bei Zürich, wo sie seitdem ansässig ist.

Hanna Johansen begann ihre literarische Laufbahn als Übersetzerin zeitgenössischer amerikanischer Avantgarde-Autoren sowie, angeregt durch ihren eigenen Nachwuchs, als Verfasserin von Geschichten für Kinder. 1978 erschien ihr Romandebüt. Die Autorin ist Mitglied des PEN-Zentrums der Schweiz und korrespondierendes Mitglied der Deutschen Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung in Darmstadt.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An all-ages fable. Gorgeous pictures. Nice message. Interesting way of telling a story. Mostly told in dialogue between the two who are just so stubborn; they can't stop arguing about who's "right" but can't just leave each other in peace, either.

[Sandra Dias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um encontro entre um pato e um mocho.

Uma tentativa de estabelecer amizade entre dois animais que à primeira vista têm muito em comum, mas que, quando se olha com maior atenção, as diferenças prevalecem entre as espécies.

Uma pequena fábula sobre tolerância e o respeito pelas diferenças do outro.
Nos dias de hoje, uma fábula para pequenos e graúdos.

E as ilustrações?
De babar.
Já há muito que não via arte assim num "simples" livrinho infantil.
Fabuloso

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how owl and duck were fighting over what they do and what they don't do. But they finally got a way to solve it. I liked how they illustrated it. This book teaches you how to stop fighting even if you don't agree with your friend.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming children’s book about a duck and an owl arguing over their differences but eventually becoming friends. Being a bird lover, I especially love the illustrations! They are fabulous! I’m looking forward to reading the book with my grandsons. It’s a good one for learning about different types of birds and their specific differences and, of course, learning to appreciate differences, in general.

[Briar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pen and ink drawings have beautiful layers of detail and depth. The duck and owl argue over their different ways of living, but I'm not sure they resolve their differences in the end. It lacks resolution that would be clear to little children like hugging and saying sorry. I understand that this book is more realistic, rather than anthropomorphic, but they just go separate ways without saying "ducks and owls are different animals"

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Pretty to look at and lots of lessons about loving those that we can't relate to.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

new word = quarrelling. We shouldn't fight just because we are different.

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma história sobre um pato e um mocho que estão sempre a discutir. Uma fábula sobre a diferença e a tolerância. As ilustrações são lindíssimas.

[Petra Be · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice little story about differences. Beautiful illustrations. (0-525-44828-4)
The newer edition has a different text and more pictures. (1-56792-285-6)