When Emily, a serious girl, meets Duck, who is definitely not serious and is riding a unicycle and wearing socks, she points out, “Ducks don’t wear socks.” “Cold feet,” yells Duck. On each ensuing day, Emily meets Duck wearing an assortment of unusual items: a cowboy hat as he rides a hobbyhorse, boots (for plowing), a tie and, finally, underwear. As Emily admonishes Duck on his silly apparel, her seriousness fades to giggles, ending in the last spread with Emily sporting a duck costume and the two ducks laughing together. The quirky illustrations play off the absurdity, with Duck’s retorts in heavy type. White affects an unusual artistic device with Duck: His dot eye and eyebrow from the usually unseen side of his profile are drawn, seemingly floating in space. This goofy concept will entertain kids as it pokes fun at being too serious. (Picture book. 4-7)
