Duck for President (by Doreen Cronin)

As the bumper sticker says, "we have to be the change if we want a say," and Duck takes this to heart when he gets fed up with the same old routine in the farmyard. Rather than staging a coup d'etat, going on strike, or otherwise halting production, Duck gets to work campaigning, sure that he can do a better job than Farmer Brown. This decision sets him on the road to a true political career with unexpected results.

Like all the books in the Farmer Brown series, this one is pretty funny even if some of the jokes will go over kids' heads. That's all right because they'll enjoy the story even as the grown-ups are smirking as they read it aloud.

As it turns out, Duck will remind readers of other politicians they might know (right down to heading to the late-night talk shows for better exposure). The illustrations are a good match for the funny, quick-moving text, making this a strong addition to the Farmer Brown series, and a timely one at that. Kids too young to really get into the political process can easily grasp the big picture in barnyard terms.

Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: March 2, 2008
Number of pages: 40
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 8