DUCK

Equally affecting on literal and metaphorical levels, this tale of a wooden carousel duck who yearns to fly like a real duck makes prime shared reading. When a small, live duckling waddles up, dreamy Duck finds herself cast into the role of parent. Though she can lavish her charge with TLC, when it comes to flying lessons it’s time to leave the carousel in search of more capable instruction. As in his Gator (2007), which is set on the same ride (the gator gets a cameo here), Cecil depicts his main character with a rather startling hole in the heart (where the pole goes), but also ably captures nuances of feeling in body angles and poses and, here, evokes a strong sense of intimacy. All too soon, the fledgling flies off—to return after a long, lonely winter large enough at last to carry his adoptive mom into the sky. She’s still much bigger than he is—but at least her dreams don’t come true by having her turn real, which makes for a refreshing change. (Picture book. 6-8)