100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

The Duck in the Gun

Series: Walker Classic
4.27 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 101 ratings, 18 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Duck in the Gun by Joy Cowley, a general is ready to go to war until he discovers a duck has taken up residence in the gun intended for firing the first shot. This unexpected turn leads to a series of humorous and heartwarming events as the general and his men have to reconsider their plans, reflecting themes of peace and the unexpected power of small actions.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Duck in the Gun. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy quirky stories with a peace-promoting message, perfect for children who love humour and whimsy. It brilliantly uses a simple narrative to teach important lessons about understanding, cooperation, and the absurdity of conflict, making it an engaging read for young minds.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The General and his men are about to fire on a town they are at war with. But the Gunner has bad news - they can't load the gun as there is a duck nesting inside it. The General calls a ceasefire until the gun can be used again and takes a white flag to the opposing town. But the men soon get used to living a peaceful existence.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The General and his men are about to fire on a town they are at war with. But the Gunner has bad news - they can't load the gun as there is a duck nesting inside it.

The General calls a ceasefire until the gun can be used again and takes a white flag to the opposing town. But the men soon get used to living a peaceful existence.

So when the duck's eggs eventually hatch and the General calls them to war, they have other ideas in store.

The Duck in the Gun is a delightful tale about peace and the unexpected turns of life, illustrated by Robyn Belton, which brings to life the charming and whimsical storyline.

Series: Walker Classic

View all
  • Henry's Bath
    Join Henry for bath time on the farm! It’s Henry’s bath time. But Henry has other ideas. Will he give the cat a bath instead? Or the dog? The hens? The duck? Henry's Bath is a delightful tale that captures the playful imagination of a boy determined to defy a routine. Join him on this charming adventure to see who...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Luke's Way of Looking
    All the boys in Luke's class see things the same wayβ€”except for Luke, who has his own special way of looking. Luke feels as if he doesn't fit in. And then one day he discovers a place that feels like home. Suddenly, the whole world changes. Luke's Way of Looking is a story about finding your place and celebrating the...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Legend of Moondyne Joe
    "They'll not take my freedom away!" These are the words of Moondyne Joe, the beloved scoundrel and expert bushman of early Australian convict history. There wasn't a cell built that could contain him, and Joe often led the troopers on wild chases through the Moondyne Hills of Western Australia. This is the story of a colourful Australian legend. The Legend...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Duck in the Gun
    The General and his men are about to fire on a town they are at war with. But the Gunner has bad news - they can't load the gun as there is a duck nesting inside it. The General calls a ceasefire until the gun can be used again and takes a white flag to the opposing town. But the...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Duck in the Gun is praised for its enchanting illustrations by Robyn Belton and is celebrated as a charming anti-war narrative. The book has been recognised by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum as one of the top ten children's books globally for promoting peace, and its appeal extends beyond its junior primary target audience.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781921150838

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2009

Country: Australia

Imprint: Walker Books Australia

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Robyn Belton
  • Illustrated by Robyn Belton

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 215.0mm

Height: 255.0mm

Weight: 190g

Pages: 40

About the Author

Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand’s best known and most celebrated authors. In 1992, she was awarded an OBE for services to children's literature and in 2002, the Joy Cowley Award was established in her honour.

Robyn Belton is one of New Zealand’s best known and most celebrated children’s book illustrators. She has won many awards, including the Russell Clark Award, the Best Picture Book and Book of the Year in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, and the Margaret Mahy Medal.

Also by Joy Cowley

View all
  • Greedy Cat
    Celebrating 40 years of Greedy Cat, we are proud to re-release this NZ classic picture book. The very first Greedy Cat adventure! Mum went shopping to buy some food. Along came Greedy Cat, in a hungry mood...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate, 2nd Edition
    This enduring tale of independence and family is an unconventional love story with a strong female lead and a pirate with a sensitive side, written by New Zealand’s leading children’s writer and illustrated by one of Japan’s foremost children’s illustrators. The fierce little woman lived in a house at the end of a jetty. She knitted socks in blue and...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Greedy Cat is Hungry
    Celebrating 40 years of Greedy Cat, we are proud to re-release this NZ classic picture book. Greedy Cat sat on a mat by the fridge. Meow, meow, meow! What will happen next?
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • At the Bach
    An evocative and beautiful bedtime picture book about summer days spent at the beach by internationally renowned author, Joy Cowley. Summer holidays by the sea have a rhythm all their own. With a few resonant images, Cowley takes us straight to the end of a long hot day with beach treasures under the pillow and the salty smell of the...
    Paperback
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Greedy Cat and the Sneeze
    Celebrating 40 years of Greedy Cat, we are proud to re-release this NZ classic picture book. Greedy Cat and the Sneeze tells the tale of Greedy Cat, who is feeling poorly. Snuffle and wheeze! Sniffle and sneeze! Katie thinks she has the answer to make him strong and healthy again... more food!
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Greedy Cat's Door
    Celebrating 40 years of Greedy Cat, we are proud to re-release this NZ classic picture book. In this story, Greedy Cat's Door, Greedy Cat gets into strife when he finds that he has grown too large to fit through the cat door! How will he get out of this situation?
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Hineniwha me te Kaitiora (The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate)
    Hineniwha me te Kaitiora (The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate) is a te reo Māori edition of a beloved New Zealand picture book. This timeless tale is an unconventional love story featuring a strong female lead and a pirate with a sensitive side, exploring themes of independence and family. The fierce little woman lived in a house at...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mrs Wishy Washy's Farm
    Mrs Wishy Washy's Farm by Joy Cowley brings delightful antics as Mrs Wishy-Washy is at it again, rubbing and scrubbing all the animals on the farm. But this time, they are not standing for it. Duck, Cow, and Pig decide to leave mean old Mrs Wishy-Washy forever. With a daring escape, they run away to the big city, but soon...
    Paperback
    $1700
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Lunch for Greedy Cat
    Celebrating 40 years of Greedy Cat, we are proud to re-release this NZ classic picture book. What is Greedy Cat to do when lunch doesn't meet his tastes? It's time to take matters into his own paws! Lunch for Greedy Cat remains a beloved choice for young readers and cat enthusiasts alike, captivating with its charming illustrations and delightful story....
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Hero Of The Hill
    A fierce wind blows. Thunder rumbles. Will the brave engine and carriages tumble? Written in steady, clicketty-clack rhyme, Joy Cowley’s tale of Hero Of The Hill brings a little-known slice of New Zealand history to life.
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Blind Date
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Greedy Cat and the Goldfish
    Celebrating 40 years of Greedy Cat, we are proud to re-release this NZ classic picture book. When Grandma goes on holiday, Katie offers to look after her goldfish. Greedy Cat thinks that's an excellent idea...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

More from Children's Books

View all
  • New Release
    Royalslinger
    K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise forΒ Dreamslinger: β€œA mind-blowingly original fantasy adventureβ€”Graci Kim has done it again!”—Rick Riordan,Β New York TimesΒ #1...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery
    Enjoy this new DETECTIVE BEANS adventure in the bestselling and award-winning graphic novel series by Li Chen! Your favourite kitten detective is back with a new mystery to solve . . . and treasure to find! When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mei Mei the Bunny Mei Mei the Bunny
    New Release
    Mei Mei the Bunny
    Mei Mei the Bunny is Laufey's picture book debut about a bunny learning to believe in herself through music. Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY Award-winning musician Laufey. Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dreamβ€”to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H'Opera House draws near,...
    By Laufey
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Hunted: Wolf Girl 15
    Just when Wolf Girl is finally reunited with her father, he is torn away from her once more, and Gwen vows to stop at nothing to track him down. But danger is closing in: a giant snow leopard and a mysterious hooded figure are hot on their trail. As Gwen and the pack race through deep caverns to snowy peaks,...
    By Anh Do
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    What If You Could
    From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed β€” herself included....
    Paperback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Lonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove
    Eleven-year-old Lonasei is lonelyΒ β€” she wishes her older sister Eva Grace wasn't so mean, and that her mum Aria didn't have to work so much. But when Aria inherits her childhood home, Lonasei discovers she can enter her late Aunt Malia's paintings and experience the memories within. Through them, she discovers that her mother had another sister, Agnes, who went...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
    Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Dawn Raid: The Apology
    This sequel to Dawn Raid follows Sofia Savea’s family, 50 years later, as Sofia's grandson becomes involved in the quest for a government apology. INVERCARGILL, 2020 Wow, I thought I knew a bit about the dawn raids, but this is HUGE. It happened to my OWN family and I never knew! I had no idea that Granfia and her family...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Big Bang Bread
    New Release
    Big Bang Bread
    In this time-travel storybook and cookbook with a cosmic twist, take a journey through time and space to discover the secrets of baking! Did you know that bread is made from stardust? Board the rocket and blast off on an adventure through time and space to discover the secrets of a home-baked loaf! Big Bang Bread is a kids' time-travel...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • B is for Bird
    From award-winning artist, Lily Emo, comes a beautiful celebration of birds. Paired with a fun rhyming story, gorgeous illustrations, and fold-out pages, this book is set to be a favourite for everyone and the perfect gift. Make your way through the alphabet with this stunning book featuring a cast of familiar birds. From albatross to fantails, gannets to quail, and...
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    (1)
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    The Curse of the Carnivorous Cactuses
    (Sam: Nothing could be as bad as being covered in icky purple blobs ... wait, what does carnivorous mean again?) The gang is determined to defeat Glam-Evil and her nasty curses so that they can save their park and get back for Shackleton and Amelia's very first sleepover. But Glam-Evil has a few new tricks up her ultravillainous sleeve ......
    Paperback
    $1400
    Elsewhere:
    $1499
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Bluey: Rain
    On Sale
    17% off
    New Release
    Bluey: Rain
    It's raining! Bluey is trying to dam the water in the front yard, but does she need Mum's help? Join Bluey as she plays in the water when a heavy summer rain thunders over the Heeler home. Can Mum stop Bluey from dirtying the house? Featuring: A nearly wordless picture book with visual storytelling that mimics the dialogue-free episode. A...
    By Bluey
    Hardback
    $1500
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.