Come Along, Daisy!

Daisy the duckling becomes so engrossed in playing with dragonflies and lily pads that she temporarily loses her mother.

Daisy is one darling duckling. But she does have a problem staying close to Mama Duck during their watery wanderings. "Come along, Daisy!" is the refrain of this simple, engaging picture book, as Mom tries to keep her distracted daughter under her wing: "But Daisy was bouncing on the lily pads." After all, Daisy has other fish to spy ... and frogs to play with. When "something big" stirs beneath her, and something screeches in the sky above, however, the dilly-dallying duckling hides in the reeds, shivering. What could that scary reed rustling be? Preschoolers will be delighted to discover it's only Mama Duck, once again asking her Daisy to come along. Jane Simmons's bold, bright illustrations are not only adorable, they are artfully composed. Youngsters ages 3 and older will be charmed and comforted by this sweet read-aloud about a mother's gentle protection. (Baby to preschool) --Karin Snelson