I Wish That I Had Duck Feet Beginner Books R

Customer Reviews

SILLY FUN

2006-05-20
We received this book as a Christmas gift and it has turned out to be a favorite. It's silly, yet at the end makes a good point. The rhymes make it fun to read over and over which is good for me. I've read this many times to a 2 and 3 year old and they both love it. They always request this book when it's story time. I highly recommend this book!

Has stood the test of time and still popular

2006-03-22
This book has been around since I was a child....and before. It was one of my favourite books and it is lovely to see that my two girls (2 and 4) adore it too.

I love the imaginative use of words and rhyme along with the way the story looks at the advantages and disadvantages of having Duck Feet - a nose like an elephant, a What Spout, a long long tail - and all of them. My girls love talking about what they would do if they had one of those things, and sometimes acting things out. It gets to be a rich fantasy story which we can carry on with other games too - and with different animals.

Great fun, nice simple and straightforward illustrations - simple, punchy, good rhymes and nice ideas.

A favorite

2004-06-29
This was my book when I was a kid (many years ago). My child has loved this book since age 2, and still loves it at age 4, and he knows every word by heart.
The story is all about applying one's imagination.
However, at a deeper level it stimulates critical thinking. First, the main character imagines a scenario and all of the benefits (say, having deer horns on his head). Next, he goes on to consider all of the pitfalls. Good life skills here!
There is some level of bullying from his antagonist. I'll confess to skipping some related sections when my boy was 2, since he had no concept of 'meaness', but at 4 he knows full well that not everyone plays nice in this world.
Another triumph for the good Mr. Geisel incognito.

A lesson in on-balance assessment from Theo. LeSieg

2004-03-26
If you go by the last line of "I Wish That I Had Duck Feet" then you would be inclined to think that this "I Can Read It All By Myself: Beginner Book" is about building self esteem in small children. But this book, written by Theo. LeSieg (do the last name backwards) and illustrated by B. Tobey, does two other important things as well. As is the case with any and all books from Dr. Seuss, there is an emphasis on the imagination. The young boy who wishes he had duck feet also wishes that he could have deer horns, a long tail, and several other physical features that would make him unique and special.

But the most important thing that "I Wish That I Had Duck Feet" teaches beginning readers is the value of looking at both sides of an issue. While the young boy is able to come up with lots of reasons why having duck feet would be a good thing, his mother has at least one very good reason why he would not want them. From that point on in the story the young boy comes up with both the pros and cons for each of the things for which he wishes. Not only does this make the point that kids should think things through first, but it also serves as a reminder that not everything kids wish for is worth having.

Still, the ability to see both sides of an issue is an important skill for young kids to acquire (older ones too, for that matter). Besides, parents can use the lesson from this book to good advantage. The next time your kid wishes they could have something and they tell you all the reasons why it would be a good thing to have, you can ask that they come up with reasons for the down side. If they claim they cannot come up with any you can certainly find one and tell them that since they could not come up with the pros and cons the answer is "No." However, as much fun as this can be keep in mind that if they come up with points for both sides and make the case for the pros outweighing the cons, you are pretty much obligated to grant their wish.

My Daughter's Favorite 2003-12-19
My daughter now 14 years old used to request this book nightly when she was much younger. Recently, I asked her for a book recommendation for a coworker and she recommended this. I had forgotten we used to read it but somehow she remembered and cited it as her all time favorite - quite a testimonial!

Very fun 2008-03-07
We got this one as a TJ Maxx special, I think -- one of those days when the child had to hold something while going through the store.

Anyway, it's great. It's very good for reading out loud, it is very 50's (even though the protagonist and antagonist dislike one another, they still hang around with all the same friends in their small town), and it's funny.

I tone down the mother's harsh words when I read it to my kids -- twice she orders the boy out of the house, and I insert various "please"s in places.

There is an undercurrent of spiteful wishes toward the antagonist (Big Bill Brown) but I think that's how kids really feel, so I go with it.

We read this one a lot.

Fun 2007-12-27
My son loved this book when we were at the library so we got him his very own. Never gets tired of it.

Graphic SF Reader 2007-09-03
I Wish That I Had Duck Feet is about a kid daydreaming about what he could do if he various differen abilities or talents, including the whacky one of wanting to have duck feet.

This might be handy to have swimming, but not so hot for running around the park or riding your bike.

my favorite childhood book 2007-08-13
wonderful message "i wish to be like me." this was my absolute favorite book. still have it memorized 37 years later!

Loved by generations 2007-01-30
Years and years ago, "I Wish That I Had Duck Feet" was my youngest son's favorite book. We read it over and over again. What a pleasure it was to find a copy on Amazon recently and to buy it for my son's three-year-old boy. They both love it.