What Time Is It? Duck & Goose: It's Time for Christmas by Tad Hills

GOOSE!

IT'S NOT TIME FOR CATCHING SNOWFLAKES.

IT'S NOT TIME FOR MAKING A SNOW GOOSE.

Goose is obviously a carpe diem kind of guy. There's a fresh white snowfall on the ground, and he just knows it's time to throw snowballs, build snow forts, sled and skate, and create snow angels while the snow falls, so to speak.

Duck, however, is a task-oriented sort. There's a job ahead and there's no time like the present to get it done. What time is it?

Well, it's Christmastide, and it is obviously Duck's self-appointed purpose to push and prod his happy-go-lucky pal to get cracking with the Christmas tree. What Duck fails to heed all along, of course, is that Goose, despite his momentary heedless hedonism, is planning ahead as well. Concealed behind his back is a large gold star, all ready for topping the tree at just the right moment.

With Tad Hill's new holiday board book treat, Duck & Goose, It's Time for Christmas (Schwartz & Wade, 2010), it is well nigh impossible not to spout words like "cute" and "adorable" and "charming," because that is exactly what it is. That odd couple of the board book set, Duck and Goose, are delightfully darling in their stocking caps and mufflers, and their final product, the little snow-decked Yuletide tree, freshly wound with cranberry and popcorn strings, is, well, quite cute! Just in time for the holidays, the youngest board book lovers will welcome this addition to the series.

Other books about Duck and Goose are Duck and Goose (Duck & Goose), Duck, Duck, Goose (Duck & Goose), What's Up, Duck?: A Book of Opposites (Duck & Goose,) Duck & Goose, 1, 2, 3, Duck and Goose: How are You Feeling? (Duck & Goose), and Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin. A selection of these, er, charming little board books makes a great pre-Christmas or stocking-stuffer gift for any, er, totally adorable toddler you know.