Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: A Book of Moods

by Sandra Boynton

Overview

Bestselling author Sandra Boynton’s board book tackles the concept of moods with her charming, trademark sense of humor.

Clever animals exemplify a wide range of emotions in this hilarious story about different feelings. Young readers are sure to giggle as interactive text asks them if they are grumpy as a moose or excited as a dog? Maybe they're worried as a rabbit or contented as a frog?

Are you HAPPY AS A HIPPO?
Or ANGRY AS A DUCK?
Maybe SAD AS A CHICKEN?
(Can you sadly say “CLUCK CLUCK”?)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442417311
Publisher:	Boynton Bookworks
Publication date:	05/24/2011
Pages:	16
Sales rank:	26,213
Product dimensions:	5.34(w) x 5.64(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD460L (what's this?)
Age Range:	1 - 4 Years

About the Author

Sandra Boynton is a popular American cartoonist, children’s author, songwriter, producer, and director. Since 1974, Boynton has written and illustrated over sixty children’s books and seven general audience books, including five New York Times bestsellers. More than 70 million of her books have been sold, “mostly to friends and family,” she says. She has also written (with Michael Ford) and produced six albums of renegade children’s music. Three of her six albums have been certified Gold (over 500,000 copies sold) and Philadelphia Chickens, nominated for a Grammy, has been certified Platinum (over 1 million copies sold). Boynton has also directed twelve music videos of her songs, including the award-winning “One Shoe Blues” starring B.B. King, “Alligator Stroll” starring Josh Turner, and “Tyrannosaurus Funk” (animated) sung by Samuel L. Jackson. She lives in rural New England, and her studio is in a barn with perhaps the only hippopotamus weathervane in America.

Hometown:

"Somewhere in rural Connecticut"

Date of Birth:

April 3, 1953

Place of Birth:

Orange, New Jersey

Education:

B.A., Yale University, 1974; attended University of California--Berkeley Drama School and Yale Drama School

Editorial Reviews

With her familiar brand of gentle absurdity, Boynton creates similes that ascribe moods to various animals. "Hello, Little Person!/ How are you today?" greets a concerned-looking bear. Part of the book's pleasure is that Boynton doesn't rely on clichéd animal personifications: "Are you happy as a hippo?/ Or angry as a duck?/ Maybe sad as a chicken?/ (‘Can you sadly say, "Cluck Cluck?" ')"After the characters tell readers, "Well, I hope you are happy./ But if you are not,/ you have friends who will help you./ We like you a lot," even kids in the stoniest of moods will feel the effect of this pick-me-up. All ages. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Emotional labeling—now that's an angry duck!—adds to the exuberant charm in this wacky animal roundup.Outgoing Bear (“Hello, Little Person!”) introduces the players and their corresponding moods. Boynton's signature style gives zany animation to her trademark cartoon characters (dog, rabbit and moose, for starters). Facial expression undergoes minor adjustments to convey depth, through slight spacing between the eyes or the angled slant of the nose. Springy rhythmic phrases engage the audience. “Perhaps, like a pig, you are SWEETLY AMUSED, / Or perhaps, like a cow, you're COMPLETELY CONFUSED.” Pacing naturally rolls along through its conversational voice and irreverent asides. “You might feel that, somehow, you've lost all your fizz. / Or you're FRAZZLED LIKE A... um...FRAZZLED THING. (I'm not sure what it is.”) Some lighthearted fun with a nugget of truth, but it's all at the stodgy bird’s expense. ‘And a difficult mood is not here to stay / Everyone's moods will change day to day / Unless you're that duck. / He's always this way.’ Guaranteed to knock the bad mood out of anyone, duck included.”

- Kirkus Reviews July 1, 2011 *STAR

Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: A Book of Moods
Sandra Boynton. Little Simon, $5.99 (16p) ISBN 978-1-4424-1731-1 With her familiar brand of gentle absurdity, Boynton creates similes that ascribe moods to various animals. "Hello, Little Person!/ How are you today?" greets a concerned-looking bear. Part of the book's pleasure is that Boynton doesn't rely on clichéd animal personifications: "Are you happy as a hippo?/ Or angry as a duck?/ Maybe sad as a chicken?/ (‘Can you sadly say, "Cluck Cluck?" ')"After the characters tell readers, "Well, I hope you are happy./ But if you are not,/ you have friends who will help you./ We like you a lot," even kids in the stoniest of moods will feel the effect of this pick-me-up. All ages.

—Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2011, *STAR

From the Publisher

Emotional labeling—now that's an angry duck!—adds to the exuberant charm in this wacky animal roundup.

Outgoing Bear ("Hello, Little Person!") introduces the players and their corresponding moods. Boynton's signature style gives zany animation to her trademark cartoon characters (dog, rabbit and moose, for starters). Facial expression undergoes minor adjustments to convey depth, through slight spacing between the eyes or the angled slant of the nose. Springy rhythmic phrases engage the audience. "Perhaps, like a pig, you are SWEETLY AMUSED, / Or perhaps, like a cow, you're COMPLETELY CONFUSED." Pacing naturally rolls along through its conversational voice and irreverent asides. "You might feel that, somehow, you've lost all your fizz. / Or you're FRAZZLED LIKE A... um...FRAZZLED THING. (I'm not sure what itis.") Some lighthearted fun with a nugget of truth, but it's all at the stodgy bird's expense. "And a difficult mood is not here to stay / Everyone's moods will change day to day / Unless you're that duck. / He's always this way."

Guaranteed to knock the bad mood out of anyone, duck included. (Board book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews