Duck and Moose

These are the first two entries in a new series for transitional and beginning readers which has an interesting take on the classic odd couple trope of easy readers. In the first book, Duck Moves In! Moose’s search for piece and quiet is disturbed by the advent of Duck. Duck, who has been searching for a “forever home” has found it—on Moose’s head. Moose is horrified and over the course of several chapters makes increasingly desperate attempts to relocate Duck. However, the two finally work out a compromise and discover common ground, whereupon they declare each other friends.

In their second adventure, Moose Blasts Off, Moose is playing his favorite imaginary game of Astronaut when Duck interrupts and wants to play too. Moose is happy to teach Duck how to use his imagination—but less pleased when Duck’s imagination starts changing Moose’s beloved game. After a brief argument, Moose realizes it might be fun to try something new and the two start using their imaginations together.

Reedstorm’s art style is bold and simple enough for a transitional comic, but has enough subtle detail and hidden jokes to intrigue more fluent readers and to make this work as a read-aloud. Moose has dramatic big eyes and one-dimensional antlers which serve as a back drop for the green-headed Duck whose orange beak mirrors Moose’s bigger snout and mouth. As the action in each story increases in pace and intensity, the panels become crowded with Duck’s household belongings and imaginary characters until each story explodes in a final confrontation and reconciliation. The panels vary in size, but generally either fill a whole page or divide it into an upper and lower panel, allowing young readers to easily follow the action. The exaggerated expressions of the characters are also a helpful aid for kids learning to follow both visual and textual cues through the story. Reedstorm’s art is especially interesting in the second story, where he differentiates between the two friends’ imaginary creations by putting them in speech bubbles and giving them a slightly glassy look and a blue or yellow tinge. When the two join forces, their creation is green, joining the two imaginations together.

I’m wary of easy readers using the classic odd couple trope since many of them provide very poor models for friendship, pairing one animal who refuses to respect boundaries or is wildly extroverted (like Duck) with a more introverted character (like Moose) who mysteriously decides to be friends and let the other character use them. This is where Reedstrom carefully crafted mix of art and story shine; while keeping plenty of humor in the contrast between the two characters, and emphasizing their differences as well as their similarities, he also models healthy friendship models. When Moose reaches breaking point, Duck respects his boundaries—and points out that he just has to use his words for what he needs from Duck.

While it’s unlikely that any new series will hit Elephant and Piggie heights any time soon, this is a worthy successor and a strong purchase for any libraries that want to build their transitional and easy graphic novel collections.

Duck and Moose Duck Moves in!  Vol. 
By Kirk Reedstrom
Disney-Hyperion, 2024
ISBN: 9781368097277

NFNT Age Recommendation: Easy Readers (5-9)

Liked it? Take a second to support us on Patreon!