Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

A young duck always wants to blow past its three siblings and be first...until it's the first to come upon a human couple eating duck for lunch. The joke doesn't quite work--duck-eating humans would horrify a duck no matter the duck's place in line--but the illustrations are droll and expressive and the dialogue-balloon text wonderfully economical.

Kirkus Reviews

A pushy young duck receives a sobering comeuppance in this humorous cautionary tale from France. When the duck parent (clad in a red turtleneck sweater) suggests the family plays outside on a beautiful sunny day, one little duck shoves past the others, shouting the titular cry: "Me first! Me first!" It's the same when the parent duck suggests fishing, and at "bath time," the overeager fowl grabs the only inflatable water toy and thoughtlessly splashes the family. When an off-page speech bubble indicates that it's "Time for lunch!" (in an ornate, scriptlike type that is very different from parent duck's printing), it's "Me first! Me first!" again--until the duckling arrives at the table just in time to learn that the menu consists of "Duck!" Tail tucked as far between the legs as a duck tail can be, the suddenly reformed offender slinks off in vocal camouflage: "Meow Meow." Even children who do not recognize themselves in the little duck's behavior may well have seen it played out on a local duck pond; this exaggerated look at typical duck--and human--family dynamics will ring true. Di Giacomo's spare, textured cartoons are deceptively childlike; their sophistication emerges in telling details: The parent duck's eyebrows betray increasing exasperation at the behavior of the wayward duckling; the little ducks are "fishing" for carnival-style rubber duckies. A sly reminder that being first is not always best. (Picture book. 3-6)

School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

K-Gr 3 Mama Duck suggests to her four ducklings that they go outside and enjoy the day. One duckling quacks, "Me first! Me first!" and bounds out the door. "Who wants to go fishing?" she asks. That same duckling knocks Mama Duck down rushing to get her gear, all the while squawking, "Me first! Me first!" This duckling is seriously annoying. Every time Mama suggests something, the same pushy bird has to be first and doesn't care how she gets there. Her siblings have had enough of her bossy behavior but before they can let her know, Mama announces that it is time for lunch. Guess who runs to the table first? But little ducking finds two diners there discussing what they are about to eat-duck! The look on the pushy duckling is priceless as she realizes that being first isn't all it's cracked up to be. She slips away unnoticed murmuring, "Meow meow." A lesson learned! Di Giacomo's textured art is childlike and appealing and a perfect complement to the simple text. This delightful book will allow children to predict what will happen next and surprise them at the end. Try pairing it with Brief Thief (Enchanted Lion, 2013) by the same team for more giggles and fun. Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA