Duck and Cat Ride the Riverboat

K-Gr 2–Panckeri, a New Yorker cartoonist, makes his children’s book debut with this humorous, attractively illustrated early r­eader graphic novel. Two friends, a very ­enthusiastic and optimistic Duck and an ­anxious Cat, board a riverboat dinner cruise led by a crew of dogs with a family of crocodiles. When the dinner is cancelled and the crocodiles get hungry, Duck and Cat have to save themselves, with Duck ­providing entertainment while Cat cooks up gumbo. What ­follows is a humorous, if a bit dark, story that could be enjoyed as a read-aloud. The text is a great level for readers moving up from series like Mo Willems’s “­Elephant and Piggie,” as there are only a few short sentences per page. The accessibility of the text doesn’t take away from the plot, which is driven by humor and expressive art. The ­visuals will keep readers engaged and ­provide helpful context clues that aid in following the narrative. Young readers will build visual information skills as they explore the details in the boldly drawn, colorful panels. All the ­characters are distinct in appearance, making the book easy to follow. ­Readers will wonder what Duck and Cat will be up to next. ­