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Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.

Monday, June 20, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and seventy-one

Camping season is here, and for today's picture book I have a story about five little ducks who go camping. Though it is true that they are camped in a backyard rather than in the wilderness, they still have a wonderful and memorable time. Little children are sure to feel an instant kinship with the sweet little characters in this story.


Lynne Berry
Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
Picture Book
For ages 2 to 4
Henry Holt, 2009, 978-0-8050-8696-6
   It is a sunny day and five little ducks at pitching five duck tents in a backyard. Happily they store their camping gear in their tents and they head for the fishing hole. Off they go wearing straw hats and carrying brand new fishing poles, chairs, mats, snacks and books.
   At the fishing hole they bait their hooks and wait, and wait, and wait. Then, at last, one of the ducks gets a bite on his line. He yanks on his pole trying to land his catch, without much success. Soon he is joined by the others. “Five ducks heave and five ducks haul,” but in the end this is a battle the ducks cannot win, and the fish gets away, fishing pole and all. Are the ducks going to be discouraged by this setback?
   This is the third book about five ducks who have some wonderful adventures together. Little children will enjoy seeing how they deal with their problems, and how they manage to have a great camping experience despite the obstacles they experience.
   With charming watercolor and ink illustrations to compliment the rhyming text, this is a picture book that young readers are sure to enjoy.

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