School Library Journal Review

PreS-"This is Duck. Duck lives at my house. Duck thinks I'm the greatest. I'm Duck's hero." So begins a young boy's introduction to his favorite stuffed toy. They spend every moment together including mealtime, bath time, and, of course, bedtime. But when Duck goes missing, and the shopkeeper, postman, bus driver, and dog next door haven't seen him, the child is heartbroken. Devastated, he climbs onto the couch, curls up in the corner, and snuggles between the cushions until he suddenly smells, feels, and finds his best friend. Soft pencil and wash illustrations on white backgrounds with large, bold text convey the mood and emotions of the boy and make it easy for young children to read the pictures. This Australian import delicately and skillfully explores the special bond that many children share with their "lovey." The last page ends with a different take on their relationship: "This is Duck. Duck lives at my house. I think Duck's the greatest. Duck's my hero." High on the cuteness scale, this will be a welcome addition to preschool collections.-Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.