Quack! A Fowl Love Story by Paul Burton is one of the most unforgettable and inspiring books I have read in a long time! It is short and simple: children and adults alike will be able to read it, enjoy it, and get something out of it.
Paul Burton has written an outstanding short story in the form of rhymes. Quack! is an allegory of the meaning of life and how life is meant to be lived. It is meant to make each one of us reflect upon what it means to live and love, and to know and understand the only way to truly live. Paul Burton has written Quack! in a simple, poetic way that makes it a joy to read. It reminds me of one of those ancient philosophical books that gives one food for thought, except that Quack! is a much simpler and shorter version of a philosophical book. This is a must-read for everyone and this is one book that I may be reading over and over again.
I've been smiling ever since I sat down to read Quack!, Paul Burton's inspirational graphic novel (illustrated story). I loved the pen and ink artwork and designs that adorn each page. There are fabulous curves and scrolling, and the equations Elena uses to try to understand life are very appealing to the techie side of me. While I'm not usually overfond of rhyming stories, Burton's rhymes are playful, flowing and never forced -- and they work brilliantly with the illustrations. I had at first thought that Quack! was a children's book, especially given Elena's age, and I wouldn't hesitate to share it with a child, but it's much more than that. Its gentle, unassuming appeal is meant, I think, for people of all ages, even those who carry about their own fog, or, perhaps, especially for them. Quack! is marvelous, and it's highly recommended.
Really, just a delightfully told and illustrated story about a little girl discovering that sometimes life just "is what it is" and need not be completely overthought. Elena learns that it’s okay to let go, trust her instincts, and love freely—with an insanely adorable duck showing her the way. Burton’s charming style, in both his verse and illustrations, makes Quack! a book my kids and I will reach for over and over—discovering something that resonates anew each time.
