3993. Max the duck

Duck at the Door

One winter night, a cozy house full of animals is awakened by a knock at the front door. They have no idea what they'll find on the other side, and Max the duck is the last thing they expect. Soon this larger-than-life houseguest is making himself at home—and forcing his way into the hearts of his reluctant hosts.

Imagine Pippi Longstocking all grown up. This is Irene. She shares her home with countless cats, dogs, birds and even a rabbit. This is the home that Max the duck stumbles on when his flock leaves and he stays behind. Almost frozen, he is adopted and quickly learns the joys of cooking, TV, and pizza delivery.

The characters in this book are all based on real animals that I or others I know have lived with. Here are a few of the characters from the book, along with their real life counterparts.

Duck at the Door is an exciting book for me because it's the first one I have written as well as illustrated. I grew up in a family where animals were rescued and loved. But the spark of inspiration for this story comes from my friend Irene.. Like my fictional Irene, she has given a home to countless cats, dogs and rabbits.. My friend Susan and I were talking about Irene’s menagerie one night when the beginnings of a story idea came to us: what would happen if a duck showed up at her door in the middle of the night?

About the Author

Heroes and villains. Funny animals. Splashes of color, lines and paint: stories. I spent my childhood immersed in story. I hyperventilated when it was my turn to visit the bookmobile. I came from a family of oral storytellers and comedians. And if I wasn't reading or hearing stories, I was acting them out with my toys or on paper.

I began my career as a graphic designer and illustrator. Over time I came to the realization that I was not just a visual artist but that I was walking in my family’s footsteps as a humorist and storyteller. I told stories with my pictures, illustrating books for many authors including Jackie French Koller, Denia Lewis Hester, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Karen Beaumont, and April Pulley Sayre.

In 1997 I began studying with author Jane Resh Thomas and added author to my credits along with illustrator when Duck at the Door was published in 2007. It became a NY Times Bestseller and was followed by Duck Soup, Duck and Cover and Sitting Duck.

With my picture stories I do aim to entertain, but for me, humor is more than just entertainment. It tells us things about ourselves that are difficult to look at square in the eye and it has a direct connection to my heart. Laughter gets us by difficult moments and reminds us that we’re All human. Or in the case of Max, all ducks.

My humor is based on many of the things important to me: home, belonging, compassion and of course, cooking and eating.