Farmer Brown once again bears the brunt of Duck’s antics. While he is napping one afternoon, the animals conspire to go on an un-fishing trip. Duck creeps by Farmer Brown on two quiet feet while four chickens keep watch: “5 cows type a note. / 6 goats load the boat.” But what’s in the buckets the pigs are carrying? Could they be connected to the empty fish tank Farmer Brown finds when he awakens? Young readers will want to read this one again and again, as much for the surprise awaiting Farmer Brown as for the rollicking rhymes and rhythms of the text. Lewin’s watercolors again hit the mark, perfectly targeting the youngest audiences. The animals are all large and up-close, focusing the attention on their amusing facial expressions and making it very easy for small fingers to count them both forwards and backwards. A must-have sequel to all of Duck’s adventures. (Picture book. 2-5)
