Waddles

January 31, 2011
McPhail's characteristically gentle earth-toned ink and watercolor pictures steer this quaint story about "a very round raccoon," who waddles like a duck, and his best friend, who is a duck. Images of Waddles and Emily in their pond-side
environs convey their mutual affection. When Emily lays a nestful of eggs, Waddles brings her food and later protects the eggs while Emily takes a swimming break. After the eggs hatch with Waddles guarding the nest, the ducklings waddle behind him to the pond to join their mother. Swimming, snacking, and cuddling with the ducklings, "Waddles had never been so happy." But when autumn arrives, Emily explains that she and her ducklings are flying south for the winter (given that Emily and Waddles aren't newly acquainted friends, it's not entirely clear why this news comes as a surprise). Still, readers will share in his palpable joy when, as expected, the family returns in spring. Despite some amusing trash-
diving for food and a (too tame) encounter with a marauding fox, the story's mild portrayal of friendship isn't rewarding enough to offset the overt sweetness. Ages 4–8.

April 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 2-A chubby and ever-hungry raccoon is close friends with Emily the duck. They sometimes swim together, and Emily keeps Waddles company as he checks the trash cans for cake or half-eaten sandwiches. Soon, however, she has some eggs to hatch, and must stay at her nest. Waddles offers to keep the eggs warm so that Emily can go for a quick swim. Danger lurks, however, in the form of a fox who tries to steal the eggs, but Waddles scares him off. Soon the chicks hatch, and he has five new friends to enjoy through the summer and fall. But, winter is around the corner, and Emily announces that it is time for them to fly south. It's a long, lonely winter without his friends, but with the dawn of spring, Emily and her babies are back, and life for the raccoon is good again. McPhail uses his familiar medium of ink and pen with watercolor to create this story of friendship, reunion, and the cycles of life. A sweet, straightforward addition to picture-book collections.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2011
Preschool-G As in Budgie & Boo (2009), McPhail celebrates interspecies camaraderie in another picture book divided into four short chapters. Waddles the raccoon loves to visit his best friend, Emily, a duck, at the pond in their beautiful park. They have their differences: Waddles snacks on trash-can pizza; Emily prefers fresh bugs. But the two have fun and support each other, as loyal pals do, and in spring, when Emily needs a break from warming her eggs, Waddles climbs onto the nest for a turn. After scaring away a predatory fox, he gets the thrill of witnessing the eggs hatch, and throughout the summer, he enjoys swimming and snuggling with the flock. Then, in autumn, Emily and her ducklings fly off to warmer waters, while Waddles spends a lonely, solitary winter, until spring brings a joyful reunion with the whole duck family. McPhails ink-and-watercolor illustrations elevate the familiar story of mismatched, devoted friends, coaxing expertly drawn emotion from his endearing characters. A tender, year-round reminder of the sustaining power of friendship.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2011
Raccoon Waddles, a loyal friend, offers to sit atop best duck pal Emily's nest while she finds food. He fends off a fox and is on site when the ducklings hatch. The sensitive and rewarding narrative is organized seasonally, conveying the duckling's growth, migration, and return to the idyllic pond setting. McPhail's artistic command of expression and characterization is on full display.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)