Duck in the Truck - Book review - Bibliophiles

Duck in the Truck Book Review: A Rhyming Story About Teamwork

Jez Alborough's rhyming picture book about Duck, his truck stuck in the muck, and the friends who help him. Story, pictures, what children learn and similar books.

Team Zootii Updated · 4 min read

Any child who has watched a car spin its wheels in a monsoon puddle will recognise Duck's problem straight away. His truck is stuck in the muck, and he cannot get it out alone.

In this Duck in the Truck book review we look at Jez Alborough's rhyming picture book: the story, the characters, the pictures and what it quietly teaches young readers about working together.

The short answer Duck in the Truck is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Jez Alborough. Duck's truck gets stuck in the muck, and his friends Frog, Sheep and Goat help him free it. Funny rhymes and lively pictures make it a great read-aloud about teamwork, friendship and problem-solving.

Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough, book cover

ISBN: 9781933605760

Duck in the Truck book review: what the story is about

Duck drives his truck straight into the muck and gets stuck. He calls on his friends Frog, Sheep and Goat to help rescue it.

Along the way they hit obstacles and setbacks. With teamwork and determination, they get past every one of them. It is a funny tale of friendship, cooperation and problem-solving.

Meet the characters

  • Duck: the hero, who gets his truck stuck and asks his friends for help.
  • Frog, Sheep and Goat: Duck's friends, who each pitch in to free the truck from the muck.

Why children and parents love it

The story is easy to follow, the pictures are lively and the rhymes are playful. Duck and his friends get up to funny antics that keep young listeners hooked from start to finish.

The themes of teamwork, perseverance and friendship make it a favourite for storytime and bedtime reading.

The illustrations

Jez Alborough's pictures are bright and expressive, with bold colours and characters that seem to leap off the page.

His style captures the humour of Duck and his friends as they struggle through the muck. Detailed backgrounds and busy, moving scenes pull children into the story.

Duck in the Truck book for kids: format and what children learn

This is a children's picture book made for sharing with young readers. The large format and sturdy pages are easy for small hands, and the rhythmic text works for read-alouds as well as early independent reading.

How it helps a child's development

  • Language: playful rhymes and repetitive text build vocabulary and phonemic awareness.
  • Life skills: problem-solving, cooperation and resilience, as the friends work together.
  • Love of reading: the humour and pictures encourage imagination and make reading fun.

Read-aloud tip Pause before the rhyming word and let your child shout it out. Repetitive rhymes like these are exactly how early readers start to hear sounds in words.

About the author, Jez Alborough

Jez Alborough is an author and illustrator known for his funny children's books. With Duck in the Truck he invites readers into a world of fun, friendship and adventure loved by children around the world.

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  • "The Gruffalo" by Julia Donaldson
  • "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Gift it right: Duck in the Truck as a birthday gift

A funny rhyming picture book with sturdy pages is one of the easiest books as birthday gifts for kids who love vehicles and animals. Put a name label inside the cover so it comes home after a playdate, and a name sticker on the wrapping.

See all personalised book labels, or browse our gifts for kids to pair the book with something more.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Duck in the Truck?

Jez Alborough wrote and illustrated it.

What is Duck in the Truck about?

Duck's truck gets stuck in the muck, and his friends Frog, Sheep and Goat work together to free it.

Is Duck in the Truck a good book for kids learning to read?

Yes. Its playful rhymes and repetitive text help build language skills, vocabulary and phonemic awareness, and it works for read-alouds and independent reading.

Found this useful? Send it to the family group.

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Written by Team Zootii

We are the parents and makers behind Zootii in Mumbai. We write about what we test with our own kids: school labels, gifting and everyday hacks.

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