Clever Duck
Grade 1–3—The pigs on the farm think that all of the other animals are "ignoramuses"—until they meet the clever duck Damaris, educated by her sheepdog friend. When the pigs escape due to the machinations of the duck and dog and are trapped by Mr. Crook, who is about to sell them to market, the duck rescues them and gains the respect of the pigs as well as the farmer and his wife. The expressive black-and-white cartoons, which appear on almost every page, add some humor. Names such as Mrs. O'Bese and Mrs. Stout are good for a chuckle as well, but some of the vocabulary, such as "squelching" and "pontificating," might be beyond the easy-chapter-book audience. Fans of the author might want to pick this up, but it's far from King-Smith's best work.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.