A trip across the road turns into an adventure in this iconographic production of Eva Moore’s charming picture book (2013). Mama Duck and her five ducklings walk into town, and, one by one, the little ones fall through a storm grate. Townspeople come to the rescue, plucking the ducklings from the storm drain and happily reuniting the brood with their mother. Based on an actual event in New York, the tale is expressively read by Tavia Gilbert. As the camera zooms, pans, and pulls away from Nancy Carpenter’s illustrations, Gilbert enthusiastically relates the ducklings’ plight, successfully conveying the concerns of Mama Duck and the bystanders. Background sound effects and light, plucky music enhance this delightful production. Pair this with Robert McCloskey’s classic Make Way for Ducklings (1941), available from Weston Woods in The Robert McCloskey Library, a collection of four stories. Booklist

”Quack, quack, quack!” The distressed calls of five ducklings are heartrending to one observer in this true story. Quick thinking on her part and on the part of the gathered crowd, as well as some firefighters, results in averted danger for the duck family on their morning walk. Tavia Gilbert’s fast-paced narration is full of urgency followed by anxiety-inducing pauses. Much of the power of the story comes from the calm response of the adults, and Gilbert mirrors that when she uses her lower register with minimal intonation. As the distress of the ducklings escalates, she travels her vocal register—perhaps a little more than needed. By story’s end, listeners will be chorusing the ducklings names—Pippin, Bippin, Tippin, Dippin, and, last of all, Little Joe—with delight. AudioFile Magazine