Starred review from November 15, 2023
Beaky Barnes, a human-size chicken, returns in a graphic novel that serves as a love letter to libraries. Ramblin' into town comes a slightly nefarious hobo duck. One hates to judge a book by its cover, but Duck's reading material (How To Fool People) is fishy. A woman on a bench feeding the pigeons offers Duck some bread but is angered when he gobbles it all up. Disheartened, he turns to How To Fool People and hatches the first of several get-rich-quick schemes. Meanwhile, roomies and close friends Beaky and the Inventor are living their best, most productive lives. While the Inventor works from home and cares for Beaky's baby, Chickie, Beaky hosts storytimes and minds the information desk at the Simpleton Library. Devious Duck continues to burn bridges right and left before finally arriving at the library for books on scams. Duck and readers learn quickly that you can't pull a fast one on a librarian, but they also see that even when provoked, library professionals are compassionate and kind problem solvers. Caldecott Honor winner Stein's trademark artwork, rendered in ballpoint pen and digitally enhanced watercolor, never misses. Duck's misdeeds are handled with compassion--an early lesson on community-based, restorative justice. To deliver that message while still infusing the book with zany, chaotic humor is nothing short of masterful. Human characters are light-skinned. Both delightfully quirky and thought provoking. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)
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February 1, 2024
Gr 2-4-In this follow up to Beaky Barnes, a new duck comes to town, looking to swindle the inhabitants out of their hard-earned money with lousy inventions and devious scams. "Zany" can't even begin to describe this book as ordinary life quickly becomes disrupted, with the a not-so-bright police inspector from the previous installment constantly falling victim to such scams as paper shoes, strength elixir, and imitation ointment-that all have hilarious results and outcomes. The overall piece seems to be a cautionary tale about false advertising, which slightly contradicts the other story line about an inventor who is genuinely trying to make new innovations that aren't working as designed. Regardless, all the many threads tie together in a quirky finish with that duck finally learning a lesson. Stein's signature illustration style is fully on display-his scribble-heavy design working well with the madcap antics of his characters. VERDICT Recommended for libraries looking for lighthearted and silly titles.-Peter Blenski
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