Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

I spend a lot of time reading kids books. This one is my favorite. Kids love it too!!

My 2 year-old daughter and I found this book by accident at the library and immediately loved it. It's a fun read with great illustrations. Highly recommend it!

On a lazy day Hairy just wants to lie in the shade and rest. But around the corner comes the peppy and playful Zachary Quack, a small duckling. Hairy Maclary tries to run and hide but the little duck is always close behind no matter where Hairy Maclary goes. But when Hairy Maclary tries to escape via water he runs into a little trouble. It is then that Hairy Maclary learns that Zachary is more than a simple annoyance. The wet and bedraggled Hairy Maclary slinks off and finally the book ends in a way that makes this the most adorable and endearing of the Hairy Maclary books. Once again Lynley Dodd combines lyrical verse with adorable characters to come up with a book kids love. Having read quite a few of these book I am impressed with the author's use of language. The language has not been simplified or dumbed down but encourages the growth of vocabulary. Definitely good books to for reading to children or have them read to you.

My daughter prefers Hairy Maclary's Bone, but this is one of my favorites to read to her. I'm surprised Lynley Dodd is not more known in the US, and I hope more parents discover her delightful books. I am doing my best to spread the word. Wonderful rhythm and rhyme ensure that you won't silently groan in dismay when your child asks you to read this over and over again. All the Hairy Maclary and Slinky Malinky stories are great (though there are a few that are not as favored as the others).

Hairy MacLary is at it again. This time he repeatedly attempts to escape and hide from a pesky duckling until Hairy gets in trouble and is rescued by his new friend. Illustrations are wonderful. My daughter owns all of Ms. Dodds books. They are great.