I CAN HELP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

In this follow-up to Costello’s I Can Help (2010), a duckling receives assistance, which results in a chain of good deeds.

Peeking out from tall grass, the little duck laments, “Uh-oh. I’m lost.” A rabbit bounds by and cheerily offers to help. The rabbit jumps high and spots the duckling’s family. They are all reunited. When the perspective zooms out, readers can see that the animals are in a park. But now the rabbit, tangled in a kite string, needs help. A passing pigeon flaps down and says, “I can help.” A familiar pattern emerges as the book demonstrates how all the animals are interconnected. The setting changes as the pigeon flies out of the park and into an urban environment. In need of shelter, the pigeon laments, “I need cover.” A raccoon steps in to lend a paw; later, a rat and a squirrel join the fray. Day turns to night and back to morning, and the same little duckling helps the squirrel but gets lost again (someone get that duck a compass!). The repeating refrain of “I can help” will reassure readers and is simple enough to be triumphantly parroted by the youngest of storytime audiences. Whether depicting a verdant park or moonlit city scenes, Costello’s artwork sets a soothing tone. Human characters are diverse.

Infectiously charming.