Lucky Ducklings

Lucky Ducklings

Picture book
When we think of animals like ducks we tend to imagine them out
in the ponds and woods of the world of nature. There's only one
problem. The human built up world keeps on encroaching on their
turf. So more and more critters have to face the challenges and
perils of town or city life. That is what happens in Eva Moore's true
rescue story, Lucky Ducklings.
Mama Duck takes her five ducklings out of their pond in a park
for an excursion. They snack on food that has fallen out of a garbage
can. This is a nice bit of realism. They are waddling down a street
when the babies fall down a storm drain, becoming separated from their
frantic mother.
What can be done to reunite them?
Read the book and see. :)
Apart from being a fun read for kids who are animal lovers,
Lucky Ducklings is a great intruduction to a complex topic: the
changing relationship between humans and animals as sprawl eats away
at their natural habitat and forces them to adapt to ours.
On a personal note, in Maine we get quite a few wild critters showing
up on our turf. Raccoons and skunks go after garbage quite
assertively. Deer prefer the gardens. Pat who runs the CISV garden
has named a particular sassy one Beyonce. Sometimes we even see red
foxes or mama turkeys with lines of babies. Adam, in his growing up
years, was quite taken with puddle ducks.
A great big shout out goes out to "all things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small."
Julia Emily Hathaway



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