Muddle & Mo

by Nikki Slade Robinson, Nikki Slade Robinson (Illustrator)

Overview

Muddle (a duck) and Mo (a goat) are best friends, but Muddle is a bit confused about what type of animals they both are. Fortunately, during the course of their walk together, long-suffering Mo helps Muddle get his duck identity sorted out in this warm and funny tale of friendship, differences, and acceptance.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544716100
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/21/2017
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	73 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

New Zealand artist Nikki Slade Robinson has illustrated over sixty children’s books, several of which she has also written. She has received numerous awards for her work in her home country.

Editorial Reviews

"...this comforting entrée into the world of differences hits the right marks for the intended age group." —Booklist "This short and goofy book with themes of identity and friendship is fun to share one-on-one or in storytime." —School Library Journal "A simple story with sweet illustrations that make this an easy entry for very young readers." —Kirkus —

From the Publisher

01/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—Muddle (a duck) and Mo (a goat) are walking along when Muddle suddenly blurts out, "You're a funny color for a duck!" At first Mo is shocked, but as Muddle continues to go on about how Mo doesn't measure up on the duck scale, the gentle friend allows Muddle to have his say. It's when they reach a goat farm that the duck recognizes his mistake and leaps for joy in his new discovery that Mo is a goat. In a twist, Muddle then worries that he might also be a goat, but Mo assures him he's 100 percent duck. Muddle is portrayed as a highly exuberant character, shouting his proclamations with confidence, contrasting with Mo's patient and wise demeanor. An element of silliness is sure to provoke laughter in young listeners. Mixed-media images created with acrylic paint and graphite are on a background of light blue handmade paper. VERDICT This short and goofy book with themes of identity and friendship is fun to share one-on-one or in storytime.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

School Library Journal

2016-10-26
Muddle the duck is confused as to why friend Mo looks so strange—before finally realizing that Mo is a goat, not a duck.The illustrations are really what make the book work, and Robinson's softly penciled and highly stylized goats and duck placed on textured blue backgrounds are adorable, with beautifully conveyed personalities. Muddle's expressions are manic and high-energy, while placid Mo's expressions are serene and calm, patiently awaiting the conclusion of Muddle's critique of what a strange duck Mo is. In fact, Mo doesn't even correct the duck—it's only when Muddle hears Mo bleat, and then hears Mo's fellow goats bleat back, that Muddle realizes that Mo is a goat. Muddle is a little cruel about assessing Mo's inadequacy (Mo's wings are in the wrong place, Mo's tail looks weird, and Mo can't even quack), in a similar vein as such tales as "The Ugly Duckling," but there's no retributive ending here. Muddle anxiously asks, "Am I a goat?" "You are one hundred percent duck," says Mo comfortably, and they cuddle up and have a laugh. There's plenty of room here for guardians to encourage kids to reframe weird into just different when observing others. A simple story with sweet illustrations that make this an easy entry for very young readers. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews