(Book Cover Source: WorldCat at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53223488&referer=brief_results, accessed September 13, 2008)BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Cronin, Doreen. 2004. Duck for president. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689863772
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this best-selling picture book, the award-winning team of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin reunite to craft an amusing new tale about Duck (the manipulative star of Click, Clack, Moo and Giggle, Giggle, Quack). This time, Duck is dissatisfied with his farm chores and decides to hold an election to displace Farmer Brown as the head of the farm. Upon winning, Duck realizes running the farm is actually hard work and decides to run for governor. After winning this election, he again realizes it is hard work and decides to run for president. Upon winning and realizing that this, too, is harder than he expected, Duck eventually returns to the farm, where he begins writing his autobiography. Through the course of the story, Cronin's text and Lewin's drawings weave a fair amount of information about the electoral process into the story - without being heavy-handed. Adults will appreciate the allusions to former presidential campaigns.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cronin is adept at blending genuine information and subtle life lessons with such humor that the reader comes away bemused, but wiser. While Duck and Farmer Brown's characters are more developed, those of the other farm animals serve largely as foils, against which to contrast Duck's cleverness. This book also relies less on stylistic sounds than its predecessors. However, there is a certain repetition to the text with respect to the "very hard work" refrain, campaign activities, sticky ballots, and ultimate outcomes. While younger children will enjoy the repetitive pattern, it serves to underline the theme for older readers. Although one could sum up the theme with a rather simplistic "the grass is always greener" or "there's no place like home" kind of statement, one is left with the impression of Duck's extraordinary ambition. The conclusion gives one the sense that the story goes on . . . which leaves us anticipating the next delightful installment in the series!
Lewin's illustrations are a huge factor in the appeal of this book. Although her black-line characterizations of the animals and humans are not elaborate, Lewin is able to convey such expressive emotions on their faces, one is amazed and amused by her cleverness. Her use of color and composition is also very effective. The story opens with the tranquil, pastel watercolors of the farm at sunset. Then bright red and deep gold are used to intensify the more pivotal moments and pages of the story. Lewin uses white backgrounds and simple drawings for the more routine sections of the story, with multiple events per page. A lot of the electoral information is conveyed in clever ways in her drawings of signs and media. When the reader learns that Duck has been elected president, it comes as a bit of a shock to turn from the series of white pages to find the scene of the Oval Office washed in deep blue - symbolic of Duck's "blue" state of mind. The story ends with the tranquil pastels of the farm - contrasted on the final page of white, with Duck moving on to the next scheme. Lewin also scatters "inside jokes" throughout the book. For example, on the final page, the typewriter from Click, Clack, Moo is in the wastebasket, and Duck is using a computer.
My personal reaction was very positive to this book. I am a fan of this series, for both the story lines and illustrations. Just glancing at the expressions Lewin has drawn on the pigs' faces as they react to Farmer Brown's smelliness makes me grin. I like that Cronin and Lewin are tackling the subject of elections to help broaden children's social awareness. I think children and adults of all ages would enjoy this book.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS
New York Times Best Illustrated Books Award
Parenting Magazine's Best Books of the Year
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year: "Cronin's text is hilarious for kids and adults . . . Lewin's characteristic humorous watercolors with bold black outlines fill the pages with color and jokes."
International Reading Association: "Betsy Lewin's illustrations distill the essence of electioneering in this tongue-in-cheek ode to politics."
5. CONNECTIONS:
*This book would be a terrific resource to launch a discussion about the upcoming national election. As the reading level is a bit high for younger grades, this would make an excellent read aloud. One could also read other books about elections such as:
Christelow, Eileen. VOTE! ISBN 0618247548
Granfield, Linda. America Votes: How our president is elected. ISBN 1553370864
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Max for president. ISBN 0375824286
St. George, Judith. So you want to be president? ISBN 0399234071
Winters, Kay. My teacher for president. ISBN 0525471863
*One could also gather the other Cronin & Lewin books starring Duck to look at similarities and differences across the series.
Cronin, Doreen. Click, clack, moo. ISBN 0689832133
Cronin, Doreen. Giggle, giggle, quack. ISBN 0689845065
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