Rankin draws on her own childhood memories in this satisfying story of an unusual friendship between a German shepherd and a domestic duck. Baron is a big dog with a big heart: He plays with Fluffy the duckling instead of eating her for dinner. He befriends Fluffy when she truly is just a ball of yellow fluff, and she sleeps, eats and plays with Baron as she grows to maturity. When wild ducks arrive at the farm pond in the spring, Fluffy abandons her canine companion for a few days, but then returns to lay her eggs and introduce her nine ducklings to life on the farm with best buddy Baron. Rankin’s illustrations in acrylics and ink show her experience with shepherds in Baron’s playful poses and animated expressions. An author’s note on the final page offers useful information on both domestic and wild ducks, including migration and the life cycle. (Picture book. 3-6)
