Lulu and the Duck in the Park
*Starred Review* Lulu, who loves every sort of animal, tries to convince her teacher that their class guinea pig needs a companion. Unfortunately, her methods lead Mrs. Holiday to announce that if anyone brings another animal to school, she’ll trade their class pet for a stick insect. When their weekly visit to a nearby park ends in disaster (large dogs running wild and destroying ducks’ nests and eggs), Lulu catches the one remaining egg as it rolls downhill, and she pockets it. All through the school day, she protects the egg and keeps it warm, revealing her secret only to her best friend (and cousin), Mellie. When the egg begins to hatch, though, Lulu finds a powerful, if unexpected, ally. Best known for the Exiles trilogy and her novels about the Casson family, McKay shows a rare ability to capture a younger audience in this involving chapter book for transitional readers. The well-structured, third-person narrative builds dramatic tension; provides comic relief of the most believable sort; and shows plenty of heart. Depicting Lulu and Mellie as biracial children in a multicultural classroom, Lamont’s appealing black-and-gray drawings reveal the characters with verve and finesse. The first in a new series, this memorable story is just right for children moving to chapter books. Grades 2-4. --Carolyn Phelan