Don't Worry, Wuddles

Adorable. Readers will flock to this barnyard charmer.

Sharing is easy--as long as the item in question belongs to someone else. That seems to be the driving philosophy of this picture book's indefatigable duckling narrator, who decides that Wuddles the sheep, a somnolent ball of curly white fleece, can easily spare a little wool to help ward off the coming winter chill. Seeing that Wuddles barely lifts an eyelid when the duckling appropriates a scarf for itself, it immediately appoints itself Wuddles's woolly grantmaker, seizing more wool from the increasingly agitated sheep to fashion into a hat for Rooster, leg warmers for Goat, onesies for the Piggies, and so on. "Wuddles, aren't you relieved?" asks the duckling, not waiting for an answer. "You can always count on me to do the right thing!" Now everyone is cozy and cosseted as the snow falls--except the actual benefactor, who has been quite thoroughly fleeced. If the hug-it-out ending provides an only temporary solution for chilly Wuddles, Duckling's energy is comically propulsive, and watercolor and pencil illustrations by Judge (Forty Winks) are downright luscious, rendered in creamy whites, warm browns, butter yellows, and blush pinks. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--Wuddles is a very fluffy sheep who surely won't mind sharing a little wool. Duckling wakes Wuddles with the news that snow is coming and some of the animals in the barn may need help staying warm. "Don't worry, Wuddles. I have it covered. You don't mind, do you?" Duckling asserts. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations perfectly capture the enthusiasm of Duckling and the increasing irritation and alarm of Wuddles. At first the sleepy sheep barely lifts an eyelid as Duckling borrows some wool to make a scarf. But each new creation has Wuddles handing out a side-eye, outright glaring, and finally bleating out a wide-eyed "Bahhhhh!" of protest. Readers will laugh as they read about onesies for piglets, slippers for Dog, and a sweater-vest for Goose. As more and more animals are included in these snow day preparations, will Duckling ever let Wuddles have a say in where the wool goes? Judge combines text and images together seamlessly to capture the boundless energy of Duckling and the bewilderment of poor Wuddles. VERDICT Perfect for fans of cumulative stories like Jan Brett's The Mitten or animal antics such as Susan Stevens Crummel's The Great Fuzz Frenzy.--Suzanne Costner

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Mellow watercolors ooze old-fashioned charm, with monotone barn backgrounds contrasting with bright pops of color from the lively, charismatic barnyard animals. With raucous stream-of-consciousness narration, the duckling is both hero and villain, and the story's a kick to read aloud. . . Adorable. Readers will flock to this barnyard charmer. —Kirkus Reviews