Few children's stories are more affecting than those concerning mother and child. Add to that scenario an adorable baby duck, and you have a sure winner. Such is the case with Martin Waddell's latest.

When tiny Webster J. Duck became restless he tapped on his eggshell with his beak. Crack went the shell and Webster got his first glimpse of a very large world. But Webster was puzzled because he didn't see his mother, and he thought that all baby ducks had a mother. He quacked and quacked, but she didn't come so he set off to find her.

In his search he found friends with wiggly tails, and wool for coats. Webster was sure none of them were his mother. Of course, the story has a happy ending, and is reassuring to young ears. It's a warm, fuzzy reminder that mother's love them and are nearby.

With wonderful illustrations, this story is a favorite for both my three-year-old daughter and myself. The message of not having to be successful at everything you try is a wonderful one for young children. The idea that being a "good friend" and being loved by others is all that is necessary to give you a "use" in this world is very refreshing.

The dynastic plans of a bumbling royal family are foiled by the birth of a purposeful daughter. Martin Waddell's tongue in cheek story is matched by Patrick Benson's comic illustrations . The gangly princess setting off to slay dragons on a rickety bicycle, grappling hook and fuzzy dice attached, appeals to parents and children, regardless of gender

This book is awesome, and i strongly suggest it to everyone!! I recieved this book when i was only in kindergarten as a gift when my best friend moved away, and i still have it. It is good motivational book to stay strong and be tough. it also has a different twist to a fairy tale, which is always good!

I have received many children, young and old, that have expressed a fear of the dark. This book has provided gentle reassurance to many a child that has stayed with our family over the years. Not only is the story easy for the children to grasp, but the illustrations are visually relaxing as well. Our copy of the book has become a "Velveteen Rabbit." A few pages have become dog-eared and the dust cover is scratched and torn, but it is one of the most loved books in our children's library. After sharing this book with a new arrival, rather than fearing the turning off the bedroom light, they look forward to turning on the dark instead.

Waddell and Firth's efforts are a winning combination!

Of all the Little Bear/Big Bear books I've read, this is my favourite. The author and illustrator have created the perfect reflection of bedtime... everything is warm and cozy and loving. The actions of Big Bear and Little Bear are typical of parent and child at bedtime. The illustrations are wonderfully done, with the 'outside' illustrations being wide and open and the 'inside' illustrations being enclosed by an arched border... adding to the feeling of safety and security of the Bear Cave. Little Bear's antics in the background and the pillows on the floor are all too familiar. Delightful!

At two years of age, my son is still parented to sleep and thus, he has no fear of the dark. So, when we read it to him, we mainly look at the pictures and talk about Little Bear and Big Bear and going to bed. However, as he grows and is ready to go to sleep on his own at night, I'm glad we'll have this story to share with him... it provides a wonderful starting point for talking about the dark and demonstrating loving parental support for real(or imagined) fears.

I regularly read this sweet book to my three year old son at bedtime. The gentle text and beautiful illustrations hold both of us in their grasp from beginning to end. I strongly identify with Big Bear; Joshua easily projects himself into Little Bear. This book is just right.

The author has written a children's version of George Orwell's "Animal Farm". The story is the same but with the violence omitted. The duck works for the farmer, who is portrayed as lazy. The animals decide to revolt but instead of being killed (a la Animal Farm), the farmer is run off the property that he owns. In effect, the animals have stolen the farm from him. The duck throws away his sickle as he is now free from the slavery of the farm owner. The animals set to work on "their" farm, only now the duck is giving the orders. In "Animal Farm" Orwell goes one step further and shows how the new animal leader becomes a tyrannt, whereas this book ends with everyone working together on a sunny day. (The imagery in this book is well done) The perfect communist utopia where the hard working common man or proletariat, has overthrown the "lazy" wealthy owner or bourgeois. It is a misconception that "owners" don't do any work. They might not do much physical labour but they do the most important work: the work of the mind.

Aside from the theme, I didn't like this book because it encourages theft:

1) theft of a good idea for a story 2) theft of property

You can't help but feel instant pity for the little duck made to do all the work on the fat farmer's farm. He soldiers on while the chubby farmer monitor's his progress with a "how goes the work?" - a phrase my four year old now knows by heart and cries with a snigger with the turn of every page.

The beautiful illustrations carries the Orwellian story of the animal's revolt well, and although the ending is a little far-fetched and rosy-colored, the book it's a wonderful read that has become one of our favorites.

even two weeks after I read them the story in their second grade class. Kids love it. It has all the entry points for beginning readers, and adults love it too--for similar reasons. I've had university faculty tell me that it's the Communist Manifesto for kids (remember the centrality of labor, organization, and consciousness), that it's a Trotskyist text (note the role of the Duck at the end) and that it's a classic of feminism (note the multiple voices that had to be considered to fashion the uprising). It's a classic, from whatever interpretation, because it's full of joy, resistance, and hope.

One wouldn't suppose that a kidnapping tale could be funny. Well, it wasn't a roll on the floor laugh-fest, but this novel did offer plenty of head-nods to irony. Suzie Q, the luckless kidnapping victim is fresh and clever and has a wry sense of humor about her. While gagged, tied up, and freezing to death she still has plenty of Irish pluck. Suspenseful and interesting, ironic and frightening, this book is wonderfully done and a pleasure to read!

I really enjoy this book it kept me on the egde of my seat the whole time I was reading it. I really thaught that Suzie Q. was ganna escape on Gerards motorcycle. I think that she could have gottin' away on his motorcycle. I like the way the book ended with her getting rescued and Dodie going to jail. I hope you enjoyed my review

I love mysterys most of the ones I read are more like thrillers I didn't know what to epect when I picked up Suzie Q all I know is that I couldn't put it down. It's a great book

In the fine tradition of his "Little Bear" books, Martin Waddell has created another timeless classic for young children and their weary parents. Little Bear wants to play but Big Bear has chores to do. Little Bear "helps" Big Bear for awhile, but ends up having to entertain himself... but by the time the chores are finished, Big Bear is exhausted...

Barbara Firth has created winsome illustrations that will draw you in and make you feel that being a bear and living in a cave (with a fireplace and "bear chair") might not be all that bad.

At our house, Big Bear and Little Bear are good friends and are dearly loved... all because of the winning combination of a warm story of a parent-child relationship and the cozy illustrations that accompany it. A lovely book to share with your child and a gentle reminder to parents that this time with little ones is precious (and fleeting).

My 2 year old likes this short story about a big bear and a little bear spending the day together. The big bear does chores and the little bear helps. The little bear also plays by himself while the big bear is busy. Eventually they play together (hide and seek and bat and ball) before going home in the evening. My little girl likes the page where little bear plays by himself - there are little pictures of him sliding and swinging and playing with sticks. I disagree with the "no rhythm" review. Its not a complex text but adequate and the pictures are charming.

This is a sweet book, plain and simple. It is a father and son bonding story. My wife included a picture of her "big bear" and "little bear" in the inside front cover.

Our 2 year old son enjoys reading the book.

We have a baby daughter and a boy who is three years old, so this tale was welcome. The story, at 32 pages, was just long enough to hold the toddler's attention. The illustrations were warm and attractive. Our baby already has teddy bears gracing her bed, so we had visual aids to help the older boy understand the point of the book. A good read for those facing the same situation.

We bought this book for our three year old a few months before his brother was born. We all loved it. It is a good story to stimulate discussion of a new or soon-to-arrive sibling, yet it doesn't have all of the negative acting out some other books of this genre contain. (Julius, Baby of the World, for one.) Another thing I liked about this book is that there are plenty of other things to focus on besides the sibling story so on nights when it turned out our toddler didn't want to talk about that, we could spend time talking about the bears and their names or all the ways they arrived. We ended up naming our new baby's teddy bear "Alice" in honor of this book. It was a nice way for our older guy to feel connected to the little one.

We really like this book -- we've been reading it to our 3-year-old in anticipation of the birth of his baby sister, and he loves it. It strikes just the right note, subtly bringing up the displacement that older kids feel when a new baby is born, without becoming a huge negativity-fest the way that so many books in this genre (unfortunately) are. It's warm, full of love, and reassuring -- a great choice for the older-sibling-to-be.

Tango, school drop-out and no-hoper finally gets Crystal to go out with him. They fall in love and 15 year old Crystal gets pregnant. Tango tries to provide for his new family and make them happy but he learns this is hard as you can imagine it would be for someone his age. This novel dispels all romantic notions of teenage pregnancy. It is hard hitting, uncompromising and gritty...just like reality. A real eye-opener for any young person who thinks teenage sex and love is trendy and romantic. I recommend you give this to your teenage daughters and even teenage sons so they can get a bit of an idea how difficult it is to raise a child, especially when your still one yourself.

The book was very good at the beginning. However, I did not appreciate hearing my 6 year old reading about "Dad with a beer on his head." The picture even further illustrated the point. Don't get me wrong, "beer" isn't a bad word, but I for one thought that the author's choice of beverage added nothing to the story - especially for a 6 year old reading aloud.

If you were ever a little girl, or if you were ever the parent of a little girl, this book is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. If you know someone expecting a baby girl, give them a copy.

Oh my, the first time I read this delightful but touching story to my 18 month old daughter I sobbed so hard she turned around to look at me - but she was smiling. As if she understood that I was "crying for happy." Any parent will be touched by the first person story of the Giants (adults) in this growing girl's life. As I read it I even think of my own childhood and how my mother must have been amazed at how fast it happened. Like all of Martin Waddell's books this one is well written and enjoyable for both the children for whom it is intended and their parents. The illustrations are charming; fun and colorful. Thanks for touching our hearts.