My Brother the Duck

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. (Apr.)

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