Reviews

"Housemates Squirrel, Cat and Duck team up for activities . . . until Duck wants to be Head Cook and stir the soup. The trio spats and Duck waddles off in a huff . . . Coziness returns when they . . . learn to share . . . Readers will linger over each page, savoring the delicious illustrations." --Starred, "School Library Journal"

"Beginning with a peek through a window where Cat, Squirrel and Duck are making music together, Cooper invites youngsters into their cozy pumpkin-shaped home ... Thanks to Cooper's uncanny ability to capture the dynamics of friendship, children will be able to laugh at this trio (and themselves) and recognize that true friendship can weather most any storm."

PreS-Gr 2 Cooper serves up a well-rounded tale told with storyteller's cadences. Pudgy housemates Squirrel, Cat, and Duck team up for activities including quilt making and music concerts, until Duck wants to be Head Cook and stir the soup. The trio spats and Duck waddles off in a huff. As the remaining pair search pumpkin patch and dark forest for their pal, they rethink their position. Coziness returns when they find Duck back home and learn to share at least cooking roles. Readers will linger over each page, savoring the delicious illustrations. Rich autumn colors and enchanting details on large spreads and spot illustrations embellish characterizations and setting. Energetic language with fresh images keeps the story bouncing along. Some may be troubled by the lack of closure on Duck's whereabouts during his absence, but the final comic page makes for a satisfying ending. The grand finale, of course, is a recipe for pumpkin soup. Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

"Housemates Squirrel, Cat and Duck team up for activities . . . until Duck wants to be Head Cook and stir the soup. The trio spats and Duck waddles off in a huff . . . Coziness returns when they . . . learn to share . . . Readers will linger over each page, savoring the delicious illustrations." --Starred, "School Library Journal"
"Beginning with a peek through a window where Cat, Squirrel and Duck are making music together, Cooper invites youngsters into their cozy pumpkin-shaped home ... Thanks to Cooper's uncanny ability to capture the dynamics of friendship, children will be able to laugh at this trio (and themselves) and recognize that true friendship can weather most any storm."