Baby Duck and the Bad Eyeglasses

Baby Duck doesn't like her new eyeglasses. She doesn't like the way she looks in the mirror, and she is afraid to play because her glasses might fall off. Grandpa Duck helps Baby Duck discover wearing eyeglasses is just fine, and she can have more fun than ever wearing them. This is a wonderful book for children getting eyeglasses for the first time. As a grandmother, I also love the strong connection that Baby Duck and Grandpa Duck have. Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa

Baby Duck does not like her new eyeglasses at all. She feels that they're too big, they push against her cheeks, and she no longer looks like herself. Worst of all, Baby no longer wants to do her favorite things because she's worried that her glasses will fall off. Baby is definitely down on her glasses, that is, until Grampa comes to the rescue. He first plays a fun game asking her what color they are, and then shows her that he wears glasses just like them. More, he helps her to see that she can still do everything she loves, even with her glasses. And maybe even more, now that she can see better. I really like this book. The illustrations are playful and fun. Baby Duck has a real problem, or at least, she thinks she does. But Grampa helps her to see things in a new way. This review is #3 in the series "Agent0042 Goes Ducky," in which I review books featuring cute talking duck or duckling characters. The second was "Little Quack Dial-a-Duck."

Baby Duck is unhappy about the new glasses she has to wear because she thinks she can no longer hop, dance, or play or they will fall off. She also thinks she looks ugly in them. But, her bespeckled grandfather saves the day by reaassuring her about her glasses. He says they "are very fine . . .[b]ecause they are red like mine." He convinces her that they won't fall off when she plays by having her splash in water and twirl around. Finally, he gives her a surprise - a new little boat with her name on it - which she can now read with her new glasses. Heartwarming, beautifully illustrations and large text make up for the somewhat skimpy story. Recommended for ages 2 to 8 and highly recommended for those with eyeglasses or young friends or family members who just got eyeglasses.

Avast, Baby Duck! At last we meet again! Having first come in contact with the creation of author Amy Hest and illustrator Jill Barton in the unfortunate, "You're the Boss, Baby Duck", I wasn't planning on enjoying this companion book in the series. After all, "You're the Boss", wasn't really my cup of tea. Imagine my surprise then when I found "Bad Eyeglasses" to be fairly good. Tackling that ancient problem facing children worldwide (getting glasses for the first time), Baby Duck's plight serves to help kids in similar situations as they submit themselves to the indignity of spectacles. Baby Duck is not pleased. Though her parents attempt to convince her that her new eyeglasses are sweet and useful, she is having none of it. She does not hop with them for fear of them falling off. She does not dance with them for fear of them falling off. She pretty much stays stationary, singing a sad song to herself about the horrid glasses perched on her face. Fortunately, Grampa is once again to the rescue. He points out that her shiny red glasses are rather similar to his own. He encourages her to run around (and the glasses do not fall off). Finally he gives Baby Duck a little boat of her own, allowing the ecstatic youngster to make up a much happier sounding song at the end of the day. As with all the books in this series, illustrator Jill Barton is at the top of her game. Whether she's drawing sly looks from Grampa or just including delightful details in her pictures (note the sports page on the cover of the book that Baby's dad is reading), Barton knows what she's doing. There is a world of difference between a down n' out Baby Duck, and a happily rowing about Baby Duck. Amy Hest's story is rather nice as well. Grampa gives good advice and plays with Baby Duck in a wonderful manner. Of course, there is the fact that Baby Duck's songs never rhyme and rarely scan. I suppose that's because they're meant to imitate the songs toddlers sing to themselves while young. Just the same, it makes them a little difficult to sing to your own kids in the context of the story. Just a thought. On the whole, however, I was pleasantly surprised. "Baby Duck and the Bad Eyeglasses" may not be winning any awards in the near future, but it's a sweet story about accepting the inevitable. With an adept illustrator at the helm and some simple but well written writing, this book is a nice addition to every bespectacled child's library. Now if only Baby Duck learned how to rhyme...

This is a heart-warming book. I think all children can relate to feeling "left out" or "different" at some point in their young lives, and this book is a gentle reassuring message that it doesn't matter what's on the outside--inside you're still you, and that's what counts!