February 1, 2020
Quirky new-baby storytime fun to quack readers up. Protagonist Stella Wells, "fledgling scientist," has a new baby brother. She also has the distinctly peculiar notion that he may be a duckling. In a matter-of-fact narration, Stella notes that her suspicions began when her mother was pregnant and her father joked "You're waddling. We must be having a duck." When the baby comes home, illustrations clearly depict him as a human infant (white-appearing like Stella and her parents), but inquisitive, observant Stella takes notes that support her hypothesis about his potential duck nature: He is "scrawny" and "yellow" (wrapped in a yellow receiving blanket), and he has a "flat, broad nose" (which Wiseman represents as a large pacifier). Then Mom announces the baby's name: Drake. This is just one instance where Miller's wordplay ratchets up the humor of this offbeak, er, offbeat new-baby book. Wiseman's accompanying cartoon art is reminiscent of Zachariah OHora's style, and it capitalizes on the text's silly premise as Stella investigates her brother's status with the help of her friend Carla Martinez (who, like many others at Stella's school, is depicted as a kid of color). Just ducky. (Picture book. 4-7)
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February 10, 2020
Redheaded Stella Wells is a self-described “fledging scientist” with a chip on her shoulder (the new sibling kind) and a hypothesis to prove: “my baby brother might be a duck.” The theory starts with her pregnant mother’s waddle and seems confirmed by the baby’s name—Drake—his annoying quack-like cry, and uncanny resemblance to a duck when he uses a pacifier or gets dried off with his duck hoodie towel. Stella collaborates with her friend and coresearcher Carla Martinez in evidence collection, and Principal Kowalski provides further confirmation when she tells the girls (not knowing their theory), “If it looks like duck and sounds like a duck, it’s probably a duck.” First-person narration by Miller (When You Are Brave) skews straightforwardly precocious, while Wiseman’s (When Your Llama Needs a Haircut) round-headed cast and skillful wielding of pop-off-the-page colors (including a blazing duck yellow) exudes a cheery goodwill. However disgruntled Stella may be, her STEM skills are a model for any sibling, human or otherwise. Ages 3–5.
March 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Introducing herself as Stella Wells, fledgling scientist, a serious-minded big sister carefully gathers evidence to support the hypothesis that her newly arrived baby brother is a duck. His name is Drake? Check. Does he quack? Very loudly. Does he have feathers? Not yet, but he's fuzzy. Also, his bright yellow onesie is topped by a bill. And as her school principal, a duck expert, says, If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's probably a duck. Hypothesis confirmed. The young researcher looks forward to fishing trips, shared lunches, and never again losing a game of Duck, Duck, Goose. But when her brother's nose begins looking almost . . . normal, she begins to doubt her conclusions?particularly after her dad waddles by wearing big, floppy swim fins. Aha, a new hypothesis! Wiseman supplies appropriately sunny cartoon illustrations (with a diverse cast that is plainly all human) to a cheery episode that fits the bill nicely for readers who relate to the young investigator in Andrea Beaty's Ada Twist, Scientist (2016) and like STEM-ware.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
May 1, 2020
PreS-K-Based on several observations, Stella, a budding scientist, thinks her baby brother could be a duck. So she sets out to test her hypothesis. Text and illustrations complement each other well in this amusing title. Text reads, "I spotted something odd before he was born. Dad told Mom, You're waddling. We must be having a duck.' They laughed. I didn't." lllustrations show a shadow of Stella's dad and very pregnant mom talking. Other signs include her brother's name, Drake, which means male duck, and the pacifier that looks like a duck bill. Stella finally convinces herself that having a duck for a brother wouldn't be so bad after all. The title ends with her beginning to test another hypothesis. Words like hypothesis, evidence, and inconclusive are used in a natural way which helps children build vocabulary. VERDICT A recommended purchase for library collections. This lighthearted story is a fresh take on welcoming a new sibling.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2020
When Stella's dad remarks that Stella's pregnant mom is walking with a waddle, young Stella begins to develop her hypothesis that the new baby will be a duck. Like a budding research scientist or nascent detective, Stella considers this theory after the birth of her brother. She uses observation (he has a yellowish tinge), inference (her parents have named the baby Drake), and logic (he has a loud squawk). Finally, she consults an expert, the school principal, who, of course, must know everything. The principal airily declares, "If it looks like a duck..." Stella considers her hypothesis proven until further experience (also known as coming to accept the new baby) forces her to abandon that hypothesis. Undaunted, her rigorous scientific mind still fully engaged, she begins to see her father in a new light. Wry cartoony illustrations, making effective use of primary colors, especially bright yellow, render this romp slightly more plausible (there's a big duck-decorated bath towel involved). It's all very jolly and absurdist, an original take on the new-baby "problem" and a lighthearted introduction to the scientific method and critical thinking.
(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2020
When Stella's dad remarks that Stella's pregnant mom is walking with a waddle, young Stella begins to develop her hypothesis that the new baby will be a duck. Like a budding research scientist or nascent detective, Stella considers this theory after the birth of her brother. She uses observation (he has a yellowish tinge), inference (her parents have named the baby Drake), and logic (he has a loud squawk). Finally, she consults an expert, the school principal, who, of course, must know everything. The principal airily declares, "If it looks like a duck..." Stella considers her hypothesis proven until further experience (also known as coming to accept the new baby) forces her to abandon that hypothesis. Undaunted, her rigorous scientific mind still fully engaged, she begins to see her father in a new light. Wry cartoony illustrations, making effective use of primary colors, especially bright yellow, render this romp slightly more plausible (there's a big duck-decorated bath towel involved). It's all very jolly and absurdist, an original take on the new-baby "problem" and a lighthearted introduction to the scientific method and critical thinking. Sarah Ellis
(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)