First published 2024
Mr. and Mrs. Puddleduck settle into a planter outside a theater in a coastal village. Mrs. Puddleduck tends their eggs while Mr. Puddleduck becomes captivated by the rehearsals happening inside. He watches dancers practice their routines and listens to the music night after night. Soon he starts copying the moves he sees, showing his wife the steps he has learned. When their chicks finally hatch right next to the busy road, the little family faces immediate danger from passing traffic. Mr. Puddleduck must use everything he absorbed from watching the performers to guide his new babies to safety. The theater company joins the rescue effort, creating a parade that stops cars and protects the duckling family. This story celebrates how unexpected learning can prepare us for the moments that matter most.
Genres: family-life, contemporary, middle-grade
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, unexpected-learning
Setting: Coastal Village, Theater
40 pages · Kindle Edition · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers