Duck, Duck, Dinosaur. Kallie George. Illustrated by Oriol Vidal. New York, NY: Harper (Distributed in Canada by Harper Collins), 2016. 32 pp., hardcover, $21.99. ISBN 978-0-06-235308-5. Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Karyn Miehl. **** /4

In this charming book, a mother duck’s eggs hatch to reveal three unlikely siblings: two ducks and a dinosaur. Even so, mother duck feels very lucky to have a “big, happy family” and loves all three of her children.

“I AM big,” said Feather. “I am full of bigness.”

“I’m big, too! I’m big too!” said Flap.

Feather fluffed herself up. “But I am bigger,” she said.

“Now, now,” said Mama. But the ducklings kept arguing. They didn’t notice that the last egg was rocking slowly. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Crack!

“Big!” And he was.

With a quack and a kiss, Mama named him Spike. Spike smiled at his sister and brother. “Oh what a sweet family,” said Mama.

     Duck, Duck, Dinosaur has become a fast favourite for my five-year old daughter. Every time we read it (and she does look through it on her own as well), she laughs at Vidal’s adorable digital illustrations and can recite the text. There is a subtle message of acceptance in this story: mother duck and the duck siblings accept, and do not question, Spike even though he looks so very different from them.

     Feather, the oldest duckling, is very self-focused; Flap, the second duckling, does his best to keep up with his older sister; Spike, the youngest, is the scene stealer. For example, when Feather brings Mama a flower, Flap wants to show his “sweetness” too, and so he brings Mama a bouquet. Spike outdoes them both, though, by bringing Mama a tree, roots and all.

     Even as a parent who has read Duck, Duck, Dinosaur numerous times with my own child, I enjoy the story immensely and love that my own kids pick up this book to peruse on their own.

Highly Recommended.

Karyn Miehl, a mother of two and a secondary school English teacher, lives in Kingsville, ON.

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