A very funny and philosophical illustrated chapter book by a bestselling author/illustrator pair about courage, true friendship and our most secret wishes, in which a lame duck takes a blind hen on a goose chase as they search for adventure and answers to some big questions. A duck spends her days limping around her backyard with the help of a crutch until one day a blind hen stumbles in, lost, and persuades the duck to embark on an adventurous journey. The duck will guide the hen; the hen will steady the duck's wobbly leg. They leave together for a place where their most secret wishes will come true. The pair come upon astonishing obstacles along the way-a wild forest, a cavernous gorge and many differences of opinion. The hen starts to wish she'd taken a guide dog rather than a duck! When the two finally arrive at their destination after all the hardships, they realize that their own backyard plus a little imagination offers as much adventure as a whole world. From the author/illustrator pair of Meet at the Ark at Eight "Hub's standout debut in English... Delightful and deep." Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Ulrich Hub's funny dialogue sparks in this comical two-hander, and Joerg Muhle's illustrative details are full of personality-like the simple zigzag leg of his limping duck." Rachel Lawson, Publisher

About the Author
Ulrich Hub trained as an actor and now lives in Berlin, Germany. He works as a director for stage and writes plays, screenplays and children's books, which have won numerous awards. Joerg Muhle was born 1973 in Frankfurt am Main and studied at the Offenbach School of Design and the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. He has been a freelance illustrator since 2000, and held a temporary professorship at the Fachhochschule in Mainz. Today, he lives in Frankfurt where he works as a freelance illustrator for book publishers, magazines and newspapers. He wrote and illustrated Tickle My Ears, Bathtime for Little Rabbit and Poor Little Rabbit.

Reviews

"This deceptively simple book's philosophical tone and sophisticated vocabulary make it ideal for older, practiced, and thoughtful readers or listeners (it makes for a solid read-aloud, too)."

-- Kirkus Reviews

"Perseverance, friendship, and imagination at the core, this would make a great read-aloud."

-- National Library of New Zealand, Best Children's Books of 2023

"Empowering, heartwarming and inspiring, this story will help children to set goals and believe."

-- School Reading List, UK

"Lyrical and rhythmic, this fast and urgent story is bold about examining the rocky parts of relationships."

-- Foreword Reviews

"Absolutely hilarious and philosophical, this is a great chapter book."

-- Funny favourites of 2022, Readings, Australia


Awards
Winner of White Ravens Award 2022.



Book Information
ISBN 9781776574728
Author Ulrich Hub
Format Paperback
Page Count 96
Imprint Gecko Press
Publisher Gecko Press