Duck's Ditty

by Kenneth Grahame, Alex Willmore (Illustrator)

An adaptation of everyone's favorite song from The Wind in the Willows, this sweet story is the perfect bedtime read. With beautiful illustrations and sweet prose, this depiction of ducks just a-dabbling in the water will capture the hearts of young readers new to the work of Kenneth Grahame.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Poetry

20 pages, Board Book

First published June 5, 1998

About the author

Kenneth Grahame was a British writer. He is best remembered for the classic of children's literature The Wind in the Willows (1908). Scottish by birth, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in England, following the death of his mother and his father's inability to look after the children. After attending St Edward's School in Oxford, his ambition to attend university was thwarted and he joined the Bank of England, where he had a successful career. Before writing The Wind in the Willows, he published three other books: Pagan Papers (1893), The Golden Age (1895), and Dream Days (1898).

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grahame, Kenneth Duck’s Ditty, illustrated by Alex Willmore. BOARD BOOK. Flower Pot Press, 2018. $13. 9781486713868

Ducks love being tipsy in the water with their tails up. This is a first-person account of ducks in their habitat.

Such a cute voice given to the joy of being a duck. The illustrations are as wonderful as the bouncy rhyme.

Pre-K - ESSENTIAL. MOMMAC

[Karawan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just picked this one because we had seen ducks recently. I didn't realize that the text is a poem from "The Wind in the Willows," which I have never read. If I had known and been more familiar with it, I might have appreciated it more.

As it was, I felt like the language was a little archaic-sounding and I wasn't sure how much Gavin got out of it. But the illustrations of ducks are nice, and if you're a Wind in the Willows fan I guess this can be a way to introduce your baby to a children's classic.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

In all my dabbles of Classics I still haven't gotten around to reading Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willow, which is a bit strange since I normally favor those stories with animal characters. Instead the little duck butts up in the air dabbling and our visit to the ducks in the park wanted me to pick this up while also wondering if it may interest my sister who was a fan of this book in her younger years.

There really isn't much of a plot or story being told as the plot is actually taken from a song found in the original book so in that sense it is a bit like Rudyard Kipling's additional tales in his Jungle Books. Unlike Kipling, though, this is a sweet song that captures a moment in time and I can almost see the ducks dancing like fairy tale characters do in the town square as they celebrate life in general.

The illustrations are brightly colorful but a bit cartoonish for my tastes. Otherwise the cast is a mix of mallard and Pekin duck with a nod to one of the wood duck or mandarin-type cousins.

Most definitely a cute story but nothing to specifically buy extra unless you know someone who really likes The Wind in the Willows or even just cute duck dabbling butts.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

A board book adaptation of the poem by Kenneth Grahame, in his classic book The Wind in the Willows.

The text of the book, 2 lines of the rhyme on each 2-page spread, has been tweaked slightly several times to freshen it for a modern audience. I had always wondered what you called the position ducks were taking when they were tails up -- much nicer than the phrase I was using!

Illustrated by Alex Willmore, the drawn artwork expands the text. Details of wildlife in the pond include only one frog, some dragonflies and lots and lots of fish. Willmore's color palette is full of muddy blues, greens, and browns. The ducks each have cute personalities.

Charming treatment that will hopefully entice others to take a fresh look at the works of Kenneth Grahame.

Recommeneded for toddlers.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this board book adapted from the classic The Wind in the Willows are simply lovely, featuring ducks, most of whom are bottoms up as they search for food. The lines here are just as fresh, appealing, and irresistible as they were in the original book. Like most everyone, I love ducks, and I always get a kick out of imagining what they are finding when they poke their heads into the river's water. Because it is so short and visually appealing, this book is perfect for sharing with even the youngest member of your family. I'm betting that eventually they will want to sing along as you read.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the song in The Wind in the Willows, this board book is a clever adaptation of the original that makes it just right for little listeners. The song and the book focus on the ducks dabbling in a pond. The ducks look for food and are very content with their quiet days spent along the riverbank. It’s a quiet book, celebrating contentment and simple pleasures. The book is a larger format of board book than many, making it very appealing. The illustrations have an organic feel, dappled with shade and sun and almost speckled with water drops. A great summer pick.

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, quick read! The words can be read, or if you know the tune, sung along to. While I have mixed feelings about The Wind in The Willows (stupid Toad... grumble) this is a lovely little picture book inspired by it.

Illustrations are quite good! Props to the illustrator for depecting ducks that look more or less, like REAL ducks! The earthy feeling artwork feels right at home on, under, and near the water where the ducks love to be. I will say that the frogs are very stylistic and cute, they make me smile - almost as much as the ducks.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations in this adaptation from the song in The Wind in the Willows.

[Katelynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language is a little challenging, even for an adult reader, but that also makes it more engaging to listen to. Beautiful, fun illustrations!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, quick rhyming book about the fun and beauty of ducks.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun story set with a great rhythm/song to it. There's great vocabulary, rhyming, and a chance to have a fun emphasis on ducks and their behaviors.

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations, and who doesn't love ducks?

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely introduction to poetry!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful rhyming text and illustrations

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy and Jordan have the fondest memories--they say--of reading this to me. They can still remember many of the words:

All along the backwater
Through the rushes tall
Ducks are a-dabbling
Up tails all...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this little poem! Still remember much of it after reading it to Baby Christian years ago...