(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pablo Pino. A legend about a “fearsome, ferocious, frightening creature” in a campsite lake and a warning not to feed the ducks go unheeded in this picture book. A young boy feeds the birds, unleashing the Quacken, a gigantic duck whose “wings were so wide they blocked out the sun.” The beast eventually picks up the boy and gives him a big lick, leading to the realization that “children taste terrible.” Pino's digital illustrations emphasize absurdity of an enormous menacing duck and include some minor gross-out humor, while Colón’s funny text makes for a good summer vacation read aloud.

Reviewer:

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pablo Pino. On Onomatopoeia Day, Ms. Garcia's students search for examples of, well, onomatopoeia. Outside they notice baa, moo, and other animal sounds; in a workshop they hear mechanical noises like clink and buzz, and so on. The rhyming story's rhythm is jarringly uneven, but the colorful, jam-packed illustrations show onomatopoeia hunters fully engaged, with butterfly nets and magnifying glasses in hand. Reading list.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger