Duck At the Door

by Jackie Urbanovic

Paperback, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

303

Publication

Scholastic (2009)

Description

When Max the duck decides to stay behind when his flock flies south, Irene invites him to stay with her for the winter.

User reviews

LibraryThing member danusia
Not a fan! The front cover fooled me into thinking I would like this book but I was really bothered by it. The animals live at home with "Irene" (am I suppose to know Irene? No one introduced us) and all have both human and animal characteristics (they fly south for the winter but drink hot tea and
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wear a blanket on their shoulders??) Anywhoo, the duck drives all the other animals crazy (baby bee bee bird style) side comments by each animal let''s reader know that they are irritated by duck's selfish behaviour. Illustrations, not great. Too much text for group sharing (possible readers theater script?)What bothered me the most was the author's use of all of the animals names as if I was supposed to know who they are. I felt a little dense or left out, as if everybody else knows these guys except me.
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LibraryThing member nancyjensen
Winter is beginning. All the ducks fly away but one stays. He knocks at the door as the snow begins to swirl. Once inside he takes over the running of the house that is already crowded with pets. Everyone is annoyed, but no one stands up to his pushiness. By the time April comes, everyone is ready
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and relieved to see him move out. Then boredom moves in. They miss him!
The illustrations in this book are large, vivid and playful. The layout takes advantage of two-page spreads, that means that facing pages show a continuous picture. It's very effective. This is a book I would like to own. I understand the author has two more books in this series. I had a great response form my Pre K students when I read this book to them in early March. They thought duck was hilarious!
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LibraryThing member IreneEblen
The book is about a duck who made a decision to stay where he lived, instead of flying to the south for the winter,because he just loved spring so much he thought he would feel the same about winter. He finds shelter in a house already full of animals. He soon starts to overstay his welcome with
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all the new and exciting things he has learned. The other members of the house can't wait for spring to arrive so he can leave. He does. After a while, everybody starts to miss him again. They can't wait for him to return because they are all bored. Winter rolls around and to their excitement, he returns, but not alone....with many more ducks!

This book reminded me of visits home we would take during Christmans or Summer. Everyone was always excited to see our family and we were excited to see who we were visiting! But by the end of the trip, everyone always seemed to have had enough of each other. Months would go by, and everyone would start missing each other again. I giggled at the end of the book when Max, the duck came back with a whole flock of ducks. Everytime for four years straight, we always returned with another addition to our bunch.

After reading this book to a class, I can have the class write about their trips visiting family members or friends or visitors that would come and visit them. They can include how their trips relate to their stories. It would be an opportunity for the class to share a little about their family with their friends. I can also intergrate science and teach why ducks migrate south. Teach cause and effect by discussing what would happen if ducks really stayed and didn't migrate.
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LibraryThing member RoppPop
This picture book tells a little story of a cold duck left behind by his flock in the winter. He finds a house, full of different types of pets, and is welcomed in. Like anyone else, he makes himself at home. Learning to cook,us the remote control of the television, swimming in the bathtub and
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sleeping on someone else's back. No one else likes that ... or do they? The duck's flock is back and the duck suddenly leaves the house. Now what? A quiet house...same food...no swimming. What will happen now?

The large, bright, colorful pictures in this book allow the reader to understand the story itself. It also shows the facial feelings from each animal in the story. By reading this book and following through with each picture, the reader will live as one of the characters in the story. Because it is a picture book the words are simple and easy to understand from toddler to preschool children. That will help, each time it is read.
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LibraryThing member kloupe1
So cute! About a duck who decided to stay behind for the winter and is befriended by Irene and all of her pets. While there as the months pass, the duck learns to adjust to his new surroundings and get almost a little too comfortable. But once Max left, they missed him and welcomed him and his
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flock back for the next winter! This is a good book to teach children how to be comfortable in new situations and to give it your best. This book could also be helpful in teaching months and possibly seasons because it goes through a whole year.
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LibraryThing member dbcollin
After deciding to stay home as the rest of his flock migrates for the winter, Max, the duck, finds himself at the door of a housekeeper, Irene, and her number of various pets. Irene warmly takes in the lonely duck. Max soon makes himself at home while invading the personal space of the others, as
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houseguests often do after extended periods. Right before a confrontation occurs, Max hears his flock quacking and prepares to leave. After many hugs and goodbyes, Max is gone. It doesn't take long before he is missed and life around the house is boring without him. Everyone hoped that he would return the next winter. Hearing the familiar "Quack" at the door, everyone welcomed Max back. The twist: Max invted his entire flock of ducks to stay as well. I would definitely recommend this book for it's story line and great artwork as well.
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LibraryThing member amoore1
Max, a duck, is welcomed into Irene's home full of pets after being left during the duck migration for winter. At first, the home is excited to have a new friend but soon Max out stays his welcome by getting a little too comfortable. When spring returns, Max hears his duck flock quaking. He knows
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that his flock has returned and he excited to reunite with them. Shortly after Max leaves Irene and her pets feel like something is missing in their home. They miss Max. In winter Max returns once again, but this time he brings along his entire flock. The animals are skeptical about this but Irene welcomes Max home with no hesitation. This story is about making new friends and also about how people in our lives should always be appreciated, because when they are gone you are most likely going to miss them. I would like to share this book during story time and have students do a lot of predicting while reading. I could incorporate a following activity in which students draw and share what their reaction would be if they were to open their door to a duck.
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LibraryThing member Glenajo
My first graders love me to read this aloud, because they can relate with the problems that Duck causes to the family he decides to winter with when his flock flies south. I always point out how Duck sleeps on Brody, and have them imagine how uncomfortable they would be if someone slept on them.
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Then we talk about why the others are missing Duck when he goes. They love the pictures, and really get into the story. The little bit of suspense at the end when Duck leaves always pulls them in and gets a laugh. It is definitely one that I will read year after year when the first graders are studying seasons, because it is fun that fits right into the curriculum.
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LibraryThing member achatela
Duck at the Door is about a duck named Max who stays behind during the winter. He winds up not being able to make it in the cold and knocks on someone's door. He soon becomes like family to the animals and Irene but soon the animals get a little annoyed with him. By that time Max's flock is back
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home. Once he leaves, all the animals realize how much they miss Max and can't wait for him to return. When he does, Irene and her animals are up for a big surprise. This book shows that people should always be grateful for what they have especially since one day it can be gone.
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LibraryThing member ronicadibartolo
My daughter and I like Jackie Urbanovic's books. Her stories are animated and funny. This book introduces Max, the duck. Very cute.
LibraryThing member crieder95
Duck at the door is a sweet picture book that shows the good and bad of relationships. When the duck first comes to the door in the winter all the other pets are excited for the new friend. Since the duck is left alone after migrating he now has to learn to do new things in the house. Through his
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lessons and misfortunes of spilled milk and learning to cook the duck find his home. The duck's relationship with the other pets become agitated but when he's gone all the pets miss him and rejoice at his return. Children can first and foremost relate to the duck's new adventures of trying and learning to do new things. During this young age children are trying, learning, failing, and creating interests in the world on their own accord. Like the duck they are learning to be comfortable in their surroundings. Also, children see how the duck and pets relationships unfolds. They witness the other pets frustrations with the duck like they probably have frustrations towards siblings and friends. But despite all that their lives would not be the same without working through the hard times with the ones they love.
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LibraryThing member bfel10
I really liked this book! It is probably one of my favorites of all of them I read! It had me hooked from the very beginning. It is about a duck named max who decides to stay instead of fly south for the winter! When his flock returns in the spring he leaves and all of his animal friends are sad,
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but next winter he comes back and he has a suprise! I guess you will need to read to find out what it is!
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LibraryThing member kamann1
"TThe Duck at the Door” is a good children’s book. The duck, named Max, doesn’t migrate south for the winter and stays behind in the cold. The illustrations in the book are very well done and even go beyond the text. For example, the book says “At first Max had a lot to learn” but the
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pictures show Max looking at a telephone, drinking out of a cup, and reading. The book also has a good moral. The other pets welcome Max, a different kind of animal, into the house. The pets also find a good solution to deal with the problem of Max getting annoying by going to talk to the owner in the house. A final reason I liked this book was because it was funny and entertaining. Most children know a duck can’t watch TV, drink out of a glass, or make food so it was funny to see drawings of it. The ending is also funny, just as the pets begin to miss Max, he shows up again – and brings his entire flock. It is a light, fun story that is entertaining.
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LibraryThing member NanceeL
Fun picture book

Awards

Monarch Award (Nominee — 2012)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Picture Books — 2009)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — Primary — 2009)
Ladybug Picture Book Award (Nominee — 2008)

Language

Original publication date

2007

ISBN

0545151295 / 9780545151290
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