“5 little ducks went out on Monday, / through the woods and far away. / Papa Duck called, 'Quack, quack, quack!’ But only 4 little ducks came back.” So begins the pattern of Papa Duck losing one little duck each time the family ventures out. But the distinctive illustrations created by pulp painting reveal that each “lost” duck has actually befriended another animal—a flying squirrel, a wild turkey, a box turtle, a pig, and a child playing in a wading pool. Not to worry—all the little ducks do come back when Papa goes out looking for them on Saturday. Sharp-eyed children may also notice that a little frog has joined the duck family. A visual index at the back gives a bit of information about each of the animals featured in the book, including the child, Anna. (Ages 2–5)