Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch, Gecko Press, 9781877579028, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Rating: (1-5, 5 is an excellent or starred review) 3
Genre: Picture book
What did you like about the book? Duck looks around one day and notices Death, drawn in a friendly manner with a skull for a head. She talks to Death and asks lots of questions that Death answers. She becomes friends with Death and eventually, Death gently takes Duck. It is a book that tackles a huge, uncomfortable subject, but does it in a gentle, sensitive manner.
Anything you didn’t like about it? Initially, I felt the book was way off mark and not one to read to children who are already afraid of their parents dying. For the general population, I stick to that assumption, but for a child who has experienced death, this book might help to clarify some questions. It puts death in a category of life.
To whom would you recommend this book? I would only read this to older children who have experienced death.
Who should buy this book? Guidance offices in an elementary school should have this book.
Where would you shelve it ? Children’s Books
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Sandra Pacheco, ESL teacher, Washington, D.C.
Date of review: March 8, 2017
Youth Services Book Review 
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