Review: My Brother the Duck by Pat Zietlow Miller

MY BROTHER THE DUCK

by Pat Zietlow Miller

Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

Chronicle Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 3 to 5

COMING...

APRIL 21st!!!

A new sibling book with humor, heart, and a dash of the scientific process sure to delight young readers.

Is Stella's new baby brother a duck?
All the evidence seems to be pointing in that direction, but Stella knows that scientists can't just wing it. Further research is definitely required.

This sweet and silly book is just ducky for new siblings, fledgling scientists and anyone who loves a good laugh.

• Read-aloud books for children and siblings
• New baby gift for siblings
• Pat Zietlow Miller has published numerous children's books, including the critically acclaimed Be Kind.

Picture-book-reading new siblings who enjoyed The New Small Person, Little Miss Big Sis, and Julius Baby of the World will love the sweet and silly humor of My Brother the Duck.

        

MY TIDBITS

What a fun, slightly quirky-geek way to dive into the adventure a baby sibling brings!

This little girl doesn't know what to think. She thought she was getting a new baby brother, but when her parents walk in with a bundle of yellow, fluffy joy, and it squeaks and has the strangest nose/mouth, she's almost convinced it's a duck! After all, her mom was waddling around like a duck shortly before the birth, too. But this girl knows not to jump the creek too fast and does the only thing a proper scientist can—collect the evidence and facts before making a conclusion. But the more facts she collects, the stranger things become.

This is a little girl full of spunk, the kind that you can't help but want to play with...if you could. Her imagination is huge, and yet, she squiggles in her version of scientific logic along the way. She's not completely wrong, and that's what makes this tale giggle worthy. Her deductions and finds are true, while somehow, not quite hitting the mark. It's a delight to watch as she fiddle and fuddles and gets things right, too.

The illustrations are bright, bold and let the emotions fly. They provide the reality and back up the study material the little girl presents, while supporting the silliness of everything in a very down-to-earth way. But this isn't only about the humor. Bringing a new sibling into the house has caused this girl's world to turn upside-down. As her facts lead to an odd conclusion, the warming of her heart is adorable and makes the reader feel fuzzy inside. And this makes the ending...a surprise...even more enjoyable.

Summed up, this is a cute read, and not only for those dealing with a new sibling. It's a tale which will make everyone smile.



And here they are...

The Author...
Pat Zietlow Miller is the is the award-winning picture book author of Be Kind, Sophie's Squash, Sharing the Bread, The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, and Wherever You Go, among others.

The Illustrator...

Daniel Wiseman is a growing presence in children's books, having illustrated a dozen books in the past three years.