Grumpy Duck

Because of a dry pond and no one to play with, Duck is very grumpy indeed.  A small black cloud appears above his head, and when dog suggests that he might want to dig holes with him, Duck is dismissive:  ‘Digging holes would make my feathers dirty.’  So it goes with Pig, Cockerel, Rabbit, Tortoise, and Goat.  Each time the animals try to be friendly and helpful, Duck is grumpy and refuses their suggestions – and each time the black cloud gets bigger!  Now the animals are all grumpy, and when the black cloud starts producing rain with a ‘splatt plot plink plitter platt dribble, millions of big shiny wet splashy raindrops’, Duck is suddenly happy.  In a reference to ‘Singing in the rain’, Duck begins ‘waddling in the rain’ and the others are soon joining in.  Dog is ‘barking in the rain,’ Rabbit is ‘hopping in the rain’, and the others are equally joyful…’What a glorious feeling, we’re happy again’.  One almost expects Gene Kelly to join the throng!  The word play is fun here, and the illustrations cheery, particularly at the end when the brightest of rainbows appears. This should make the grumpiest of little ones happy.