[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.]

Daredevil Duck desperately wants to be brave, but holy moley can it be hard!  Some things are too dark, too fluttery, too wet, and too high — and those things can really make it hard for a little duck to be brave.

To make things harder, there is the loud, obnoxious gang waiting on the sidelines to taunt and tease him — and dub him “Scaredy Duck”.  They’re not helpful, but fortunately not particularly harmful — and Daredevil Duck shakes off their taunts.

One day, while Daredevil Duck is dreaming about being brave and floating down an awesome inner tube, a friendly mole pops out and surprises him.  Poor Daredevil Duck! This unexpected encounter jostled him so badly that he grabs his tricycle and peddles as fast as he can through the dark woods, fluttery leaves, deep puddles, and over the high, high hills and is so befuddled that he lands right back where he started.

Those are some pretty brave deeds for someone usually so scared.  (Funny how you always think you can’t do something until after you’ve done it.)

When Daredevil Duck comes upon the mole again, the very friendly mole politely asks Daredevil Duck if he could help rescue his balloon out of the tree.  Daredevil Duck wants to help — but boy is that tree high.  Mole makes his case that Daredevil Duck should at least try, and try he does!

Up he climbs, and what do you know — success!  Mole is thrilled and declares that Daredevil Duck, “Must be the bravest duck in the whole world!”  (Right in front of the previously-taunting duck gang.  How satisfying!)

From then on, Daredevil Duck has the confidence to be a little braver and try new things.  And when those pesky ducks try to make fun of him again, he presents them with illustrated evidence that they’re flat-out wrong and that he is, without a doubt, the bravest duck in the whole world — you know, for the most part.

Daredevil Duck beautifully and astutely captures what it is like to be torn between wanting to be brave and yet having to face your own fears.  This wonderfully uplifting story shows the power of friendship and the difference a person’s encouraging words and faith can make. Daredevil Duck is a wonderful story that presents an inspiring, encouraging, and humorous reflection to adults and children alike about how to be brave, especially when you’re sure you can’t be.

It’s a super cute, super fun story that absolutely resonances with my whole family.  My son declared that Daredevil Duck is just like him!  (And then promptly asked if he could have a bright red helmet and a yellow balloon.)  The illustrations are bright with bold lines and lots of split pages that keep you surprised and guessing at what the next page could be.  The whole book is expertly done and approaches the serious topics of bravery, expectations, and friendship in the guise of a sweet and fun picture book.  It’s excellent!

Recommended Ages Roughly 3 to 8. Running Press Kids. May 12, 2015. 32 pages. ISBN:978-0762454563 Fiction. Hardcover.

Where to Get it:

• [Affiliate Link] Amazon.com
• [Independent Bookstore] Indiebound.org
• [Library] Worldcat.org

Author and Illustrator Websites:

• Charlie Alder

This Review is Part of a Blog Tour:  Read More Reviews of Daredevil Duck below.

5/4 Wife Hat, Mom Hat

5/5 Geo Librarian

5/6 In The Pages

5/7 Stacking Books

5/9 Bea’s Book Nook

5/10 ReaderKidz

5/11 Coffee for the Brain

5/13 Mrs. Brown Loves Bookworms

5/14 Mom Read It

5/15 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books

5/16 Cheryl Rainfield

5/17 Unleashing Readers

Where Obtained:  I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links and others are IndieBound affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase something, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Which goes to fund my family’s picture book habit.  It’s a vicious cycle, but we manage.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”