ACK! THE NANTUCKET DUCKLING

A duckling overcomes his fear to help a friend in this picture book.

Ack’s beak isn’t like the other ducklings’; it has a trumpetlike shape and makes his quack into “a funny ack, ack, ack.” Other ducklings pick on him and force him to the end of the duckling line, but Ack just wants to fit in. Wilson Wigglesworth, a boy who feeds the ducks, is also different; his big, thick glasses make him stand out. At the annual Nantucket Daffodil Festival and Duckling Parade, Ack tries to hide his beak with a hat, a sock, and even a crab. But when Wilson, who isn’t wearing his glasses, is in danger of being run over by a distracted biker, Ack lets out a giant “ACK!” and saves the day. Debut author Spurway’s take on “The Ugly Duckling” adds regional charm, planting the story firmly in Nantucket and drawing on its real-life Duckling Parade tradition. East’s watercolor illustrations reinforce Ack’s realization that everyone has unique attributes and that humans come in all sizes and colors. Children may be surprised that Ack’s mother is oblivious to the bullying, but otherwise the plot flows cleanly, setting up hints about the outcome. The significant amount of text makes this a good choice for lap readers or newly independent readers.

A sweet tale with a strong moral about appreciating differences.