Duck lives in a shaded backyard, never seeing the sun. She needs a crutch to walk and has no visitors, so she is a bit lonely.

Still, the backyard is all she knows, and she’s too scared to leave it and change her life.

Totally unexpectedly, a chicken wearing dark glasses walks into the yard. It’s only when Chicken trips over Duck’s crutch that Duck realises she is blind.

Chicken has brought a secret with her. She is searching for a wonderful place in the world where secret dreams come true. She doesn’t now where it is, but she’s certain she’ll know when she gets there. After much discussion and coaxing by Chicken, Duck decides to go with this new and interesting stranger.

They talk, they bicker and argue on the journey, but also face dangers one moment and dance joyfully the next, and learn about each other on the way. Duck even learns Chicken’s secret dream. If only Chicken would remember it once telling Duck.

This journey of these two birds is a special one, with Chicken not realising just how special it is until they reach their destination. They’ve found something else they didn’t even know they were looking for – a true friend.

What a funny, wonderful, sweet and exciting book from the amazing team at Gecko Press in NZ.

They have discovered another treasure and brought it home to New Zealand for kiwi kids to enjoy. Chicken and Duck are just like real kids, looking for adventures and finding out about each other on the way. They’re strangers, then friends, frenemies and friends all over again.

I loved the characters, the simple but often funny colour illustrations and clear, easy to read font.

Young readers are going to love it too!

Author – Ulrich Hub

Illustrator – Jörg Mϋhle

Age – 7+

Look Inside here

Read the first chapter here

(2022, Gecko Press, Animals, Duck, Chicken, Funny, Humour, Adventure, Afraid, Brave, Courage, Special Dreams, Secret, Friendship, Backyard, Back yard)