The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?    by Mo Willems Order:  USA  Can Hyperion, 2012 (2012) Hardcover      Reviewed by Bob Walch Another in the Pigeon series of picture books by Mo Willems, this volume kicks off with Pigeon showing his disgust at the book's title. 'I do not like the look of that title,' he says. Perhaps there's a reason for his response, for the opening six pages of the story feature a little yellow duckling, not Pigeon. Duckling begins by asking for and receiving a cookie. 'Hey! How did you get that cookie!?' asks Pigeon. When Duckling replies that he politely asked for it, Pigeon goes ballistic. 'I ask for things ALL THE TIME!' he shouts and then he goes down a list of all the things he's asked for but never received. 'Oh yeah, I'm the asking-est pigeon in town! But do I get what I ask for? Nooooooooooo! It's not fair,' says Pigeon. Then Pigeon asks the big question. 'WHY DID YOU GET THAT COOKIE!?' Duckling's response is a surprise and one that will probably catch the reader off guard just as it does Pigeon. But, as he usually does, Willems saves a final little zinger for the very end of the book when he shows us Duckling isn't quite the innocent he appears to be. Popular with children and adults, Mo Willems' picture books are not only cute but they also exhibit some behavioral traits more akin to older individuals than little folks. That's the beauty of his work – it functions on a number of levels and at times can be deliciously wicked without ever seeming to be so! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews