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Garret Freymann-Weyr
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French Ducks in Venice Hardcover – December 13, 2011

by Garret Freymann-Weyr (Author), Erin McGuire (Illustrator)
3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
Editors' pick Best Books Ages 3-5
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A magical, lyrical, beautifully illustrated tale about friendship and healing — and the joys and risks of staying open to love, even in the face of loss.

Siblings George and Cecile live in Venice, California, but think of themselves as French ducks. They have an important friend, Polina Panova, who conjures magical dresses of thread, silk, and velvet . . . of grass, pieces of night sky, and strawberry jam. To the ducks, who delight in her daily visits, Polina is a princess. But when Polina's prince — who makes movies almost as luminous as her dresses — decides to go away, life on the canal changes, and so does Polina. What are two steadfast and affectionate French ducks to do? Save admit that every broken heart mends on its own time, in its own way? From an acclaimed Y A author and a talented debut illustrator comes a storybook classic full of light and hush, wisdom and whimsy, about patient friendship and the healing power of time.
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  1. Reading age
    5 - 9 years
  2. Print length
    56 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Kindergarten - 4
  5. Dimensions
    7.99 x 0.45 x 9.35 inches
  6. Publisher
    Candlewick
  7. Publication date
    December 13, 2011
  8. ISBN-10
    0763641731
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0763641733
  10. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Children’s Books of the Month, December 2011: Illustrated in a style that is reminiscent of classic animated children’s films, French Ducks in Venice is a story of friendship, loyalty, loss, and healing, told with warmth and heart. A pair of ducks, Georges and Cécile, befriend a young dressmaker, Polina, who they call a “Russian princess” for her gowns made, not only of cotton and silk, but also “pieces of the night sky, and strawberry jam.” This princess has a prince, Sebastian, who makes her very happy, until one day he goes away--for good. The reader never learns why Sebastian went away, only that Polina is very sad as a result. The ducks bring Polina a gift of golden light from where the sea meets the sky, and with the passage of time she emerges from her sadness, a reassuring reminder of the endless opportunity for new beginnings and happiness. --Seira Wilson

Review

There’s virtue in presenting a portrait of loss with a spoonful of sugar; readers learn how to talk about hurt, while McGuire’s cinematically lit pictures recall classic Disney images of winsome animals consoling star-crossed heroines.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; First Edition (December 13, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 56 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763641731
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763641733
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.99 x 0.45 x 9.35 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

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Garret Freymann-Weyr

Garret Freymann-Weyr

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Garret Weyr (once Freymann-Weyr) writes about teenagers, magic, dragons, and cats. A Printz-honor winner, her books have been banned, translated into a multitude of languages, and included in college curricula. Her books have won awards and readers. She is a native of New York City and now lives in CA, but is moving. Every day, she drinks tea, writes, and reads. She lives with a rescue cat and pug, both of whom rescued her.

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

lastremnant
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful children's book that adults will enjoy as well
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2011
Verified Purchase
When you read French Ducks in Venice, your first thought will be that this could be adapted into a movie like one of those superb indie animated films like Secret of the Kells or the Illusionist. It has a poignant feel to it and yet it's a children's book, so you can read it on two levels (which is an immediate sign that this is a good children's book as parents could read it to their children).

The artwork is amazing, beautiful, not overdone, perfectly capturing the scenes.

The story is a touching one and when it ends it will leave you wanting to know what happens next to our "Russian princess" and her gown or wishing for further adventures involving the ducks.
5 people found this helpful
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emlcapo
1.0 out of 5 stars This is a terrible and inappropriate picture book for children
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2016
This is a terrible and inappropriate picture book for children. I was lured in by the beautiful artwork as I quickly grabbed it from the library. Thank goodness I previewed it before I gave it to my 8 year old daughter. People, from the cover artwork, this is a PICTURE book clearly intended for a young audience but the entire plot is about a young lady who lives with her Hollywood producer boyfriend who suddenly leaves her one day without any explanation other than, "he had to go." Really? A picture book about a girl living with her boyfriend. The rest of the story is pretty shallow and unappealing as well! I'm giving 1 star for the artwork only. This author need to figure out whether to write young adult OR children's fiction and certainly shouldn't market young adult themes to children.
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NY rat
2.0 out of 5 stars Nice but meh, needs MORE pics!
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2016
Wonderful pictures and story but children will get bored (adult me got bored!). If only it had more pictures to the volume of text it has!
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Coach A
3.0 out of 5 stars A tiresome read
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2012
The ducks aren't French and they don't live in the Venice, Italy, but one thing is for sure--Georges and his sister Cécile are quite fond of their friend Polina Panova. When not wading in the canal, the pair visits Polina in her home dressmaking shop where she creates beautiful dresses of silk, cotton, and velvet with pieces of night sky and strawberry jam. Polina lives with her princely boyfriend Sebastian Sterling and she is "happy and peaceful and amazed"--until Sebastian leaves. It will not do for his princess to be sad so Georges sets out to find Sebastian to no avail. If Polina can't have Sebastian, Georges will find his princess another present. But what Polina really needs is time.

The digital illustrations are undeniably alluring and readers are in for a visual treat. Unfortunately, we are not privy to Polina's magical dresses made with Georges' present. Some scenes are too long such as when Georges is incredibly flummoxed by Sebastian's departure, and repetitive phrases may bore some readers. Suitable for readers ages nine and up, this book is divided into scenes with symbols denoting a scene's end.

Originally reviewed in the San Francisco/Sacramento Book Review from ARC
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KidsReads
4.0 out of 5 stars A bittersweet twist on fairy tale romance
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2012
FRENCH DUCKS IN VENICE is the story of two not actually French ducks in Venice (California) and the princess they love. Well, Polina Panova is really a Russian dressmaker, but to Georges and his sister, Cécile, she is as lovely and talented as a princess should be. Polina makes beautiful dresses with "thread, silk, cotton and velvet," and also with "grass, flowers, pieces of the night sky and strawberry jam," she explains. But when her prince, a filmmaker named Sebastian Sterling, goes away forever, there is more sadness than beauty in Polina's life.

Georges and Cécile try to stop Sebastian from leaving, but it is no use. All Polina tells the ducks is that he "had to go." Instead of trying to find Sebastian and bring him back to Polina, Georges sets out to find a present for Polina, one that will bring beauty and happiness back into her life. His search for the perfect gift takes him far from the canals of Venice and out over the sea. Where the ocean meets the sky, Georges finds something for his princess --- something golden and soothing, something to inspire her and make her feel at least a little better.

FRENCH DUCKS IN VENICE is author Garret Freymann-Weyr's first picture book. The story is rich and emotionally sophisticated but told in a straightforward and delightful way. The plain language, however, is sometimes at odds with the depth of the story: the content seems intended for older readers, yet the wording seems a bit young. The illustrations by Erin McGuire are graceful and sweet, and capture all that is compelling in the story. Though the narrative has a few missteps, it remains a unique approach to the theme of broken-heartedness and the joys and comforts found in true friends.

A bittersweet twist on fairy tale romance, this story is about the power of friendship and unconditional love and the importance of patience and creative work. It doesn't shy away from the pain of loss but presents it in an honest way. Polina will always be "a little bit sad," but with the help of her friends, she will be happy, too.

Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
2 people found this helpful
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judy mckeown
5.0 out of 5 stars How couldn't you love.
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2013
Verified Purchase
While it is mainly a chidren"s book, I loved reading it and then passing it on to my grandchildren.. I am also related to illustrator, which made it extra special.
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