Swim Swim Sink

What begins as a simple rhyming picture book by Harney (Underwear!) morphs into a humorous metafictional tale about a resolute duckling’s dilemma. After “one happy duck sits down to rest./ Three tiny eggs. One twiggy nest,” three eggs hatch, producing a trio of wee ducks (an onlooker, a pink worm, grins at their appearance). Two of the fledglings immediately take to swimming, but as the title implies, the last duckling experiences some difficulty. As soon as the third begins to sink, an omniscient narrator intrudes (“Huh... I didn’t know ducks could sink. This is a problem. Ducks need to swim. AND all of this sinking is ruining the rhyme”), adding a meta layer to the narrative. With the gentle companionship of the worm, the duckling approaches her predicament from various angles (a running start, orange water wings, and lengthy stilts among them) before constructing a creative solution that allows the duck to float comfortably. Expressive digital illustrations, bright orange feet, and dramatic typography against a mellow aqua background mark this charming celebration of perseverance and problem-solving skills. Ages 3–5. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. [em](Jan.) [/em]