When Mama Duck decides to take her brood of five ducklings for a walk through town, all goes well until she walks easily over a storm sewer grate. One by one, her ducklings following along behind fall through the openings. Luckily there's a witness who calls for help, but the fire department can't lift the grate. A bystander with a truck is finally able to attach a cable and pull it off, which allows a fire fighter to rescue the ducklings one by one. Based on a true story, Eva Moore's patterned text takes full advantage of the drama of the page turn, and she expertly uses the repetition of the ducklings' names-Pippen, Bippen, Tippen, Dippin, and Little Joe-to focus the attention of young listeners. Realistic illustrations offer a range of visual perspectives, including vertical panels showing each duckling's fall through the grate. (Ages 2-5)

An engaging and charming true rescue story illustrated by a Christopher Award winner!

Early one morning, Mama Duck takes her babies for a walk. They follow safely behind her as they leave their pond, waddle through the park, and stop in the little sunlit town's parking lot for yummy breakfast.
But one by one, Mama's little ducklings get separated when they disappear into the slats of the town's storm drain. How three firemen and a pickup truck rush to their rescue makes for a vivid and exciting drama that children will return to over and over again.
Award-winning artist Nancy Carpenter and veteran author Eva Moore have created a delightful new classic with an inspiring environmental message.