Ducky the Spy: Pumpkin Patch Panic!
More Ducky the Spy laugh-out-loud hilarity in this perfectly pitched graphic novel from award-winning creator of Frank's Red Hat, Sean E Avery
Mr Pig’s giant pumpkin, Brunhilda (Hildy for short), in trouble.
A powerful device stolen from a secret lab.
A once-evil cat turned loyal friend ...
All in a day’s adventuring for and Donny “The Distraction” Donkey
Creators
Sean E Avery is a teacher, writer-illustrator, sculptor and designer born in South Africa currently living in Perth, Western Australia. Locally, he’s best known as the writer-illustrator of well-loved children’s picture books. Frank's Red Hat (Walker, 2022) was shortlisted for the 2023 CBCA Picture Book of the Year and was winner of Shadow Judges Picture Book of the Year, and was also shortlisted for the 2023 Indie and WAYRBA awards. It has been published in several territories. In 2023, Sean released Mr Clownfish, Miss Anemone and the Hermit Crab alongside two graphic novels, Friendly Bee and Friends and Friendly Bee: Woe is for Worm.
Reviews
This book is ideal for kids, but it also offers plenty of charm for parents and caregivers reading along. The humour and clever dialogue make it a joy to read out loud. Plus, it sparks great conversations about bravery, curiosity, and the joys of exploration. Which are great themes for families to discuss together!
Better Reading
As you’d expect from any book by Sean E Avery, the humour is bound to appeal to early primary school readers, with lots of silly noises and fart jokes to leave everyone giggling. There is a lot of play on words, with Ducky missing the point to hilarious effect, and that type of humour can be fantastic for getting kids to think about language and how it works… Ducky the Spy is going to come up a winner with young readers who like a good laugh and giant pumpkins.
Reading Time
Employing high-paced absurdist humor akin to that of Aaron Blabey’s The Bad Guys series, Avery puts visual gags front and center, as when a poorly-put-on cat costume makes Donkey’s butt appear to be a feline face. Backgrounds simulating half-tone-style comic printing and bold foreground lines give the series an appreciably retro look. A lighthearted, slapstick series starter that’s sure to please.
Kirkus Review
Avery’s bold line drawings of the animals and pastoral settings featuring pastel-hued backgrounds with dot accents provide visual delight in short chapters that end with either a punch line or a cliffhanger. Readers new to the clueless-detective routine who enjoy slapstick antics (like Donny’s gassy reactions when scared) will get a laugh out of this barnyard romp.
Booklist Review October issue
A lighthearted, slapstick series starter that’s sure to please
Kirkus Reviews
