I can help in the neighborhood

Toddler-PreS--An adorable duckling shows readers that we all have gifts to share and we need help from time to time from others. As the duckling leaves the fountain where it was swimming with its family, it wanders into the tall grass and gets lost. When it realizes that it is separated from its family, it is quickly helped by a rabbit, who is able to hop above the grass and see the lost duckling's family. Rabbit is next to need help when it becomes tangled in a kite string. The story progresses in this manner as animal after animal assists and needs assistance until, at the story's conclusion, the duckling is able to offer aid with its own special knowledge. Illustrations focus on the friendliness of the characters and feature animals that many young children will have seen (including a very sweet rat!) VERDICT This charming board book features a helpful group of familiar animals with an engaging story that will make for an enjoyable read for an audience just learning to help others.--John Scott

In this follow-up to Costello'sI Can Help (2010), a duckling receives assistance, which results in a chain of good deeds. Peeking out from tall grass, the little duck laments, "Uh-oh. I'm lost." A rabbit bounds by and cheerily offers to help. The rabbit jumps high and spots the duckling's family. They are all reunited. When the perspective zooms out, readers can see that the animals are in a park. But now the rabbit, tangled in a kite string, needs help. A passing pigeon flaps down and says, "I can help." A familiar pattern emerges as the book demonstrates how all the animals are interconnected. The setting changes as the pigeon flies out of the park and into an urban environment. In need of shelter, the pigeon laments, "I need cover." A raccoon steps in to lend a paw; later, a rat and a squirrel join the fray. Day turns to night and back to morning, and the same little duckling helps the squirrel but gets lost again (someone get that duck a compass!). The repeating refrain of "I can help" will reassure readers and is simple enough to be triumphantly parroted by the youngest of storytime audiences. Whether depicting a verdant park or moonlit city scenes, Costello's artwork sets a soothing tone. Human characters are diverse. Infectiously charming.(Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.