Mallard Duck at Meadow View Pond - a Smithsonian's Backyard Book (Mini book)
reschool-Grade 3--Mallard Duck at Meadow View Pond follows the first season of a newly hatched mallard and his family. From his first swim on the second day of his life and his first meals of water fleas, mayflies and aquatic plants, to his early encounters with hawks and snapping turtles, young mallard matures under the warm spring sun. With the coming of summer, he and his siblings begin to lose their soft brown feathers. As fall approaches, the brood is mature and ready to test their wings. Wendy Pfeffer's descriptive text captures the habitat and clearly explains the development of the ducklings. At times the text is challenging for beginning readers, introducing such terms as clutch, plumage, preen, and iridescent. The luminescent paintings by Taylor Oughton bring the duck's pond world to life. The light and color of the art is beautiful. The accompanying cassette is well narrated and includes realistic sounds that bring alive the duck's world. Many young children are exposed to a plethora of humorous duck tales by the time they reach school, but this realistic story will put them in touch with the natural world of mallard ducks and the wildlife that surrounds them.Emily Herman, Mary Lin Elementary School, Atlanta, GACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.