The Barnes & Noble Review
The talented team who brought you the Caldecott Honor winner Click, Clack, Moo turn their sights on politics in this knee-slapping picture book starring a duck with designs on public office.

Back on the farm, Duck is fed up with chores that leave him "picking tiny bits of grass and espresso beans out of his feathers." So with a sign that reads "Farmer Brown Must Go! Farm Election Tomorrow!" the ambitious bird throws his hat in the ring, launching a remarkably successful political career. After winning the barnyard election, Duck realizes that his situation hasn't improved, and he decides to turn his attention to the governorship -- and the presidency. As it turns out, our web-footed friend has a positive gift for campaigning. He connects with voters through pancake breakfasts, parades, and television appearances and lands himself in the Oval Office! Sound like a great job? "'Running the country is no fun at all,'" thinks Duck, and with the "help" of a help-wanted ad, he peacefully retires to do what all great presidents do to preserve their legacy.

Cronin and Lewin's tale is just the ticket for lighthearted inspiration and serious laughter. Clever illustrations of Duck striking presidential poses -- including a tongue-in-cheek scene of him pondering his "fowl" fate in rough times -- are simply hysterical, making this a silly read for young kids and an even funnier one for more sophisticated types. No quacks about it, our vote goes to this dynamic duck. Matt Warner

Duck doesn't believe that any of the candidates are worth a hiccup; no, this web-footed clucker believes in his scheming heart that only he truly deserves to be president. The next step for the star of Click, Clack, Moo, of course, is to make the voting public realize that a winged creature belongs in the White House. Whether you're a dove, a hawk, or just plain chicken, Duck for President is required reading for citizens of all ages.

As the run-up to the 2004 presidential election gathers momentum, it appears that George W. Bush may have more than Democrats on his tail. Duck, the ever-scheming star of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type has thrown his feathers in the ring. Fed-up with the drudgery of his barnyard chores, Duck decides to officially buck authority and hold an election to determine who should be in charge. The web-footed wonder narrowly defeats Farmer Brown, but soon discovers that running a farm is not all it's cracked up to be. Duck plans a move to greener pastures by entering-and eventually winning-the race for governor. However, for the ambitious feathered hero, only the highest office in the land will do, and he charts a course for the Oval Office, which also has its drawbacks. Though Cronin's latest Duck tale introduces the basic mechanics of the election process, it lacks many of the silly high jinks and clever plot turns that gave its predecessors their charm. A few nods to past presidents appear in both text and art (Nixon, Clinton, G.H.W. Bush), offering older readers a knowing wink. The focus on Duck's dissatisfaction and loneliness at the top makes the story line perhaps better suited to adults, even as Lewin's chunky-outlined watercolors continue to cater to the younger crowd with her usual dashes of humor and daffy sweetness. Her depictions of the campaign-trail motorcades, parades and town meetings are a hoot. All ages. (Mar.) FYI: The book will have a March 2 laydown date. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

PreS-Gr 2-This award-winning team returns with a third story of farm animals with ambition. Duck is tired of doing his chores (mowing the lawn and grinding the coffee beans), and decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown. When he wins, Duck quickly realizes that running a farm requires too much hard work, and sets out to run for governor. With the help of the hens, and speeches "that only other ducks can understand," he eventually ends up running the country. Executive office gives him a headache, however, so Duck returns to the farm to work on his autobiography-on a computer, with the typewriter from Click, Clack, Moo (S & S, 2000) in the wastepaper bin next to him. Lewin's characteristic humorous watercolors with bold black outlines fill the pages with color and jokes. Cronin's text is hilarious for kids and adults and includes a little math and quite a bit about the electoral process. The animals, who have no verbal language that humans can understand, are empowered by the use of the written word, and the subliminal message comes through loud and clear-one can almost hear youngsters thinking, "Watch out grown-ups! Just wait till I learn to read."-Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Just in time for an election year, the feathered troublemaker of Click, Clack, Moo (2000) and Giggle, Giggle, Quack (2002) enters the political arena, with sidesplitting results. Weary of chores, Duck organizes a farmyard election and ousts Farmer Brown-only to discover that running a farm is harder than it looks. So Duck moves on, campaigning first for Governor, than President, and winning each time by, well, a nose. Lewin follows Cronin's lead in losing no opportunity to lampoon recognizable political figures. Seeing Duck flash a two-fisted "V For Victory" sign, edge out a decidedly Hillary-esque gubernatorial incumbent, play saxophone on late-night TV, and lean wearily on the presidential desk may amuse grownups more than children-but the comedy flows freely on more levels than one, and there's sufficient hilarity for all. Seeing the error of his ways, Duck finally returns to the farm, and is last seen working not on chores, but, graduating from typewriter to computer, his memoirs. All things considered, he has plenty to write about. (Picture book. 6-8)