DON'T WORRY, WUDDLES

Drafted by an overambitious duckling, Wuddles the sheep unwittingly ends up donating a barnyard’s worth of winter gear.

We’ve all had that friend who’s fleeced you into doing more than you were expecting—and the charismatic culprit here is a wee, butter-colored duckling. The duckling borrows a bit of wool from Wuddles, who is serenely encased in winter fluff, to create a spiffy scarf. It’s such a success that the duckling launches a full-on fashion show. There’s plenty of silliness as readers watch a frenetic duckling fit a surprised Rabbit with soft earmuffs or wrap Goose in a sweater vest. 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. While the duckling genuinely wants to help Goat avoid “extra cold” legs and to provide chilly piggies with trendy onesies, the protagonist’s total obliviousness to Wuddles’ expressive and increasingly chagrined face provides just the right level of conflict for young readers. Observant kiddos will notice Wuddles’ voluminous fleece shrinking and predict the coming crisis—Wuddles is out of wool. They’ll certainly approve of Duck’s cuddly way of making amends, an enthusiastic “group hug” that wraps Wuddles in a solution as warm as, well, wool. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Adorable. Readers will flock to this barnyard charmer.