Liz Wong’s debut picture book, QUACKERS, is 100% charm. It is sweet and funny and very satisfying. I’ve written before about how much I like stories of friendship and this one ranks right up there.
It is the tale of Quackers, a cat that lives at a duck pond with a lot of ducks. So, it is only natural that Quackers thinks he is a duck. He does not like all things duckish—particularly the diet which includes things like slugs and worms and duckweed .
He has a hard time communicating with his duck friends. And he doesn’t like getting wet. It is no surprise that sometimes he doesn’t feel like he fits in.
When Quackers meets a cat from the farm adjacent to the duck pond he is surprised that he can understand the cat (which he also thinks is a duck) and that the cat can understand him.
The new cat takes Quackers back to the farm and introduces him to all the other farm cats. He discovers a fast kinship as they chase mice and drink milk (which tastes much better than duckweed) and he soon fit right in. But as much as he loves his new cat family, he started to miss bits of his life at the pond. He is a cat (or a duck) torn between two worlds
Quackers finds a solution that serves him best, and in the end everything turns out ducky. (Oh, come on, you know I had to use that!)
Wong’s art is just as charming as this story. The flat, muted shades and textures of orange and blue and green are warm and comfortable. Her simple characters are sweet and engaging with an almost nostalgic feel. Quackers is a lovable and expressive cat (or duck) and his story is one that you can read over and over. Though, it would be nice if there were some more Quackers stories…
This looks so sweet!
Love the ‘where do I fit’ theme along with her illustrations! Nice review – looking forward to reading this.
Yes–this looks–and sounds–delightful!
I love the group hug! Who doesn’t need one of those once in awhile?
Wow! I can’t wait to get this! Thank you for the excellent review.
This is too cute! Congratulations, Liz!
Ahhh…so cute! What a great story!
This looks adorable. Love the title and cover alone!
I’ve just reserved it at my library. Thanks for sharing!
I loved this interview. Sometimes we all feel like a “cat” in a “duck” world.
Adorable! Thanks for the review!
Adorable! Congrats Liz!!
Looks like my kind of book! 🙂
This looks simply adorable!
Don’t we all love to come home once in a while? even though we don’t feel like we fit there exactly. looks like a great book.
Really charming!
I’ll definitely have to check this one out. Thanks!
Sweet! Thanks for sharing.
I love an “awww” story. Will have to get this one, Liz.
Cute book!
What a fun way to play with puns. Gotta get this one.
Hee hee, looks great! Thanks, Kevan!