Good morning animal lovers, and welcome to another book review!

Today I’m reviewing The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck by Matt Phelan.

I haven’t branched into historical fantasy fiction all that much, so I’m remedying that today. The cuteness of this cover struck me immediately (big animal lover here!), and I couldn’t help but dive right in. Alright, let’s get this review started!

Blurb

“Intoxicating . . . it will be hard for young readers to put down.” — New York Times Book Review “A grand, giddy, and, at times, literally soaring tale.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “An amusing, fast-paced tale of land, sky, and spies.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Incredibly creative. . . . A little bit of history, a touch of mystery, and heaps of fun.” —ALA Booklist (starred review) A Washington Post , Publishers Weekly , and Kirkus Reviews Best Book A Junior Library Guild Selection A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year Wherever there are injustices, nefarious plots, or threats to society, the Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck are there to stop them! A sly villain with a plan to cause havoc across the globe is no match for three extraordinary animals—and their two young human friends. From acclaimed author and artist Matt Phelan, The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck is a hilarious, action-packed, and highly illustrated middle grade adventure perfect for fans of Skunk and Badger and Flora & Ulysses . The very first passengers to ride in a hot-air balloon were a sheep, a rooster, and a duck in 1783. And while hot-air balloons are indeed wondrous, ten-year-old Emile is too busy being the fastidious caretaker of ambassador Benjamin Franklin’s château in Paris to think much about them. But soon, young Emile finds himself right in the middle of a sinister plot. And right in the middle of the secret headquarters for France’s undercover guardians—the very same sheep, rooster, and duck that piloted the first hot-air balloon. If Emile can muster his courage and be bold, he may be the key to helping the heroes save both Benjamin Franklin and the world. Award-winning author Matt Phelan’s The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck is a highly illustrated adventure full of secrets, hijinks, and reimagined historical events. This rip-roaring and surprising story is ideal for reluctant readers, aspiring heroes, and fans of Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot .

GoodReads

Amazon

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The Review

What a fun and silly historical fantasy adventure!

In this middle grade book a famous sheep, rooster, and duck battles evil forces hungry for war and power, but when they find themselves overwhelmed they enlist the support of young Emile, a simple servant. As Emile learns about the dangers the dark forces pose, he embarks on a fantastic journey to save the world as he knows it.

I just adored how cute this book was! It had lots of silly humor and was very whimsical while presenting facts about history. The artful illustrations fit the tone of the book and made the story come to life more in my mind’s eye.

Emile was a great main character. He’s a simple boy, but he has a curious mind and good morals that steer him forward. Along the way he learns not to blindly trust others and not to always do as he is told. This theme of independence is really great for younger readers. I also loved the sheep, rooster, and duck, as well as Sophie and how her personality differed from Emile pretty drastically.

Each chapter was nice, short, and full of action and interesting conversations that moved things along at a brisk pace. If you need a historical fantasy book for your kiddo or just a fun story to escape from reality, this one’s worth a try!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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