Module #6-Picture Books-Duck For President

Duck for President

By Doreen Cronin & Illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Book Summary:

Duck is tired of doing his share of chores and wishes to replace Farmer Brown as head of the Farm and proposes an election.  With a vote of 6 to 21, Duck was voted in charge of the Farm.  After this election, he went on to run for Governor and won, and then continued on to run for President.  He wins there as well and finds out this job also is not what it is “quacked” up to be. 

Lewin illustrates this fanciful story beginning on a farm and ending in the White House.  Children chuckle at this delightfully humorous picture book; its colorful drawings pulling youngsters into the story.

APA Reference:

Cronin, D., & Lewin, B. (2004). Duck for President. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

My Impressions:
Delightfully humorous, Cronin displays the discontent of farm animals with their situation and gives them the independence seeking ambitions of children.  Youngsters will enjoy a humorous look at the political process from a child’s viewpoint.  Stikki-ballots found on the Pig’s and the Vice-President’s bottoms were obviously absurd and particularly humorous bits placed in this delightful story.

Professional Review: 
This selection is recommended for Pre-school through 2^nd grade readers.  Cronin entertains with ambitious farmyard animals in this delightful tale.  Lewis’ watercolors and Cronin’s text “includes a little math and quite a bit about the electoral process” give farmyard animals a humorous bent toward aspirations for themselves and young readers alike. 

[Review of the book Duck for President by D. Cronin & B. Lewin]. (2004, March). School Library Journal, 50(3), 155-156. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/. 

Library Uses:

Classroom voting activities would be an educational and fun project reinforced by this book.  The election process can be reinforced by reading this light-hearted story to preschool through elementary students.  Making posters, organizing voters, and marking ballots are reinforcing activities for these young students.  This may be an opportune time for voting for their favorite books from state sponsored programs.  (In South Dakota, students vote for the Prairie Pasque and Prairie Bud selections.)