Duck Gets a Job

Many stories deal with career pretend play, but Ross puts a clever spin on the concept with his earnest titular character, Duck, who is full-grown and seeking his life’s work. Duck’s friends all have office jobs where they wear bowler hats, carry briefcases, and rave about spreadsheets, so Duck figures he needs one of those jobs, too. With a little nervous planning, he finds himself hired at Office Corp., where he dons a headset, works in a cubicle (a “YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMPANY—BOSS” poster adorns one of its walls), and is so bored he falls asleep. But rather than despair, Duck becomes determined: he quits after his first day, puts together a portfolio of drawings, exchanges his bowler for his jaunty bandana, and lands the job of his dreams at Creativity Magazine. It’s a story that may be as inspiring to professionally alienated adults as it is entertaining for kids. Both audiences will appreciate the stylish Risograph drawings—which combine bold graphic shapes with softly speckled textures—and the plucky, if slightly neurotic, protagonist who just wants to do what he loves. Ages 3–7. (June)