Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, ill. Betsy Lewin
The election isn’t until November, but we figured it would be a good idea to tackle the season early before everyone starts plugging their ears saying, “La La La! I can’t hear you!” And as luck would have it, today’s particularly political picture book came out 20 years ago this year. Now in previous election years, Duck for President was released every four years. It is not, as far as I can tell, being released in 2024. Why is that? This podcast episode aims to answer that question, as well as assess how Duck for President has aged. Has it stood the test of time? Let’s find out! We discuss how this book clearly is just barely missing the term “hanging chad” and whether that’s relevant to voters today.
Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.
Show Notes:
One of the earliest books we ever did from this Cronin/Lewin collaboration was Click Clack Moo. You can listen to the episode here.
If you’d like to see Doreen Cronin talk about this title on CSPAN on June 3, 2005, you can do so here.
Kate’s a little suspicious of the fact that the pig is registering the other animals to vote. After all, she read Animal Farm once. And as I say say, “The horse better watch his back.”
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We have a strange appreciation for the seal that appears behind Duck. Nice trading in those fasces for corn cobs.
Kate wonders why in a human world the Duck is surrounded by doberman security. To be frank, I think that’s a smart move on his part.
There are a number of ways in which this book is dated today, but this may be one of the most prominent.
This scene always feels to me like the movie Election.
Kate Recommends: One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
Betsy Recommends: The Sartorial Librarians podcast
Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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I did a really fun election day storytime with this book! And Clifford for President. Then everyone voted for whether they thought Duck or Clifford should be president. (I set up a little voting booth with a three-panel poster board and a toy mailbox, with ballots with pictures of Duck and Clifford to circle). Objectively, Clifford was clearly the stronger, more responsible candidate, but in one of our groups, Duck did win, and I overheard a preschooler telling her mother about it afterward: “I voted for Clifford, but Duck won,” to which her mother immediately replied, “I know the feeling.”
I loved how you mentioned the “hanging chad” election in your post. I remember clearly how the winner of that election was decided and how voters accepted the decision with comparatively little distress compared to 2020. How I wish politics today was respectful and decent once again.