Rating: 
Summary: "How goes the work?"
Review: Try as I might, I just can't see a socialist or communist agenda in this pleasant little book. Likewise, I do not see this as plagiarism of Orwell's dark and history based "Animal Farm." Perhaps I am just being naive. Or it may be that I am being seduced by the art work, which is lovely and quite detailed.
True, the duck does wind up in the place of the farmer. The duck is clearly giving orders at the end of the book, and that does jar a bit. But at least he's out there with the other animals, not laying in bed and eating bon-bons.
The way that I try to present this to my daughter is as a straightforward endorsement of honest work and as a condemnation of laziness.
Rating:
Summary: Compassion and charm
Review: You can't help but feel instant pity for the little duck made to do all the work on the fat farmer's farm. He soldiers on while the chubby farmer monitor's his progress with a "how goes the work?" - a phrase my four year old now knows by heart and cries with a snigger with the turn of every page. The beautiful illustrations carries the Orwellian story of the animal's revolt well, and although the ending is a little far-fetched and rosy-colored, the book it's a wonderful read that has become one of our favorites.
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