Module 6: Duck for President

Book Summary:  Duck doesn't like to do his chores.  He thinks he can run the farm better than Farmer Brown and hosts an election to vote for him for Farmer.  The animals took the election very seriously and had voter registration.  Farmer Brown loses and demands a recount and Duck still wins.  Running a farm is of course no fun and Duck aspires to be Governor and does all of the things he can do to run the election process.  Duck wins and wins the recount.  Being a Governor is hard work and now Duck sets his eyes on the Presidential election.  He again does all of the things that presidential nominees do.  He of course wins- even a recount.  Being President is hard work and sees a Help Wanted ad in the local paper for his old job as Duck.  He goes back to the farm and begins his autobiography.  

APA Reference:  Cronin, Doreen.  (2004).  Duck for president.  New York, NY:  Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impressions:  This book is hilarious!  Who knew that running for office could be so much fun!  I do think that every one of the jokes made about politicians is way over kids heads here, but a lot of fun for the adults.  I loved that every single vote had a recount and that Duck still won.  I thought it was such a hoot that it said that he went on the campaign trail and gave speeches that only other Ducks understood- sometimes I feel like that when I watch a lot of politicians speaking too.  The things he did to get elected to President definitely poked fun at real life Presidents like playing saxophone on Letterman- too funny.  This book is definitely for kids but I think it is the adults who will truly appreciate the satire.

Professional Review:  PreSchool-Grade 2--This award-winning team returns with a third story of farm animals with ambition. Duck is tired of doing his chores (mowing the lawn and grinding the coffee beans), and decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown. When he wins, Duck quickly realizes that running a farm requires too much hard work, and sets out to run for governor. With the help of the hens, and speeches "that only other ducks can understand," he eventually ends up running the country. Executive office gives him a headache, however, so Duck returns to the farm to work on his autobiography--on a computer, with the typewriter from Click, Clack, Moo(S & S, 2000) in the wastepaper bin next to him. Lewin's characteristic humorous watercolors with bold black outlines fill the pages with color and jokes. Cronin's text is hilarious for kids and adults and includes a little math and quite a bit about the electoral process. The animals, who have no verbal language that humans can understand, are empowered by the use of the written word, and the subliminal message comes through loud and clear--one can almost hear youngsters thinking, "Watch out grown-ups! Just wait till I learn to read."--Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Review of Duck for president by Jane Barrer].  School Library Journal.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/President-Times-Illustrated-Childrens-Awards/dp/0689863772

Library Uses:  I think this would be a great lesson for younger readers about appreciating what you already have and a lesson on theme.  I think it would be more fun for older readers to enjoy after learning about the electoral process and some of our nation's history with running for office.