The Masterful Mallard by Doreen Pullo-Fleisch (Author) and Graziella Miligi (Illustrator)

This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views Kids version here.

Mallard has a simple wish: to swim in the pond with some friends. However, after laying her eggs, Gray Duck shuns Mallard and his green feathers saying only ducks with gray and white feathers can swim in the pond. Mallard is deeply hurt but decides he will go for a swim despite what Gray Duck said. Before he can jump into the water, he runs into Muscovy—a duck with a red face. Together, they decide to swim in the pond with their colorful looks. But then, a raccoon appears and starts to go after Gray Duck’s eggs. Despite some hesitation on Muscovy’s part, Mallard masterfully attempts to coax the raccoon to swim with Mallard and Muscovy and eat fish instead of Gray Duck’s eggs.

The Masterful Mallard has a clear point of view and moral: looks should not dictate whether someone is welcome in a community or not. This is deftly shown by author Doreen Pullo-Fleisch with ducks that look distinct from one another, but are all clearly ducks deserving of friends and a pond to swim in. Additionally, Muscovy learns from Mallard that just because someone was unkind to them does not mean that everyone around them should be punished. These are important core messages for children reading this book to take in and the clarity with which they are presented will allow even very young readers to benefit.

Illustrator Graziella Miligi’s artwork is simply marvelous. There is an aspect to the illustrations that is similar to Eric Carle’s style and that is said as an immense compliment. However, that is also not to suggest that they are a copy or imitation of Carle’s works merely that they bear a charming similarity, especially in the texture of the images. Miligi portrays each duck uniquely and creates a delightful pond for them to swim in. Readers young and old will love taking in Miligi’s artwork.

The Masterful Mallard is a clear moral tale that young readers ages 4 to 10 can easily absorb written by the deft Pullo-Fleisch with fantastic illustrations crafted by the marvelous Miligi that add a vividness to the picture book.

The Masterful Mallard by Doreen Pullo-Fleisch (Author) and Graziella Miligi (Illustrator), Independently Published