A deceptively simple Dutch import (with the deliciously evocative original title of Boos) shows young readers a way to turn their moods around. Duck, despite the presence of her beloved toy Cuddly, “is not having a good time. Everything around her seems so gloomy.” She makes her way through a black-and-white landscape as clouds lower and rain begins to fall. “Could the clouds be sad too? Duck feels worse than ever.” But a cheerful frog encourages her to “Look ahead!” and Duck sees “a tiny bit of color.” Emboldened, she gathers the clouds together to help her find the sun. As Duck begins to take control of her day, Verroken begins to digitally add color to her bold woodblocks until, when the sun finds Duck, the landscape is saturated with it. The illustrator’s control of line and color easily communicates Duck’s emotional journey, her self-translated text complementing it with ingenuous charm. It’s an offbeat little tale, but children should feel empowered by its take-charge message. Who can’t respond to a duck that tells clouds what to do? (Picture book. 2-6)
