Pelican, written and illustrated by Brian Wildsmith. Star Bright Books, Fitzhenry and Whiteside. 2023. $17.95 ages 4 and up

"The speckled hen wasn't very pleased. 
But it was an egg, so she sat on it. 
After a while all her own eggs hatched.
At last, the large egg cracked, and out 
came an unusual bird."

Paul is a young farm boy who loves climbing his favorite tree to watch what passes by on the road beneath his high roost. When a truck hits a bump as it passes by, it dislodges a small box with a message on its top - FRAGILE KEEP WARM. Picking it up, Paul takes it home to show his father. 

The two are surprised to find a large egg inside. Neither knows what kind of egg it might be; his father suggests having the speckled hen hatch it along with her own eggs. The hen reluctantly sits on this new and unwelcome egg. Eventually, a most unusual bird hatches. While her chicks grow fluffy and strong, the new one eats little and doesn't change much at all. It will not eat the chicken feed.

When Paul's father returns with trout for the supper table, the bird shows a renewed interest in food. While Paul's mother is off feeding the chickens, that greedy bird gobbles the fish. It happens again and again. Finally realizing the bird is a pelican, Paul is asked to take it to the river to catch its own meals. When that doesn't work, the pelican eats the day's catch at the dock. Big trouble! 

A trip to the supermarket is another bad choice. The pelican wreaks havoc trying to get to the fish in the freezer. Hearing his father say he will take the pelican to the zoo, Paul sneaks out that night with the pelican, to stow away on a big ship. Discovered before leaving port, they are returned home. Paul's worried parents agree that the pelican can stay if it learns how to fish and helps on the farm. That arrangement is mutually beneficial until the pelican, who has learned to fend for itself, flies off to never be seen again. 

Well, readers will know what happens. 

Published anew last year, following Mr. Wildsmith's death in 2016, this book reminds readers of his incomparable ability to create stories and artwork that survives the test of time for its beauty and relevant storytelling. Children will be intrigued as well by the half-page flaps that hide the next part of the tale.