"One day Mama holds my hand and says,
"Soon the ducks will move, like we did.
They'll fly south for the winter to stay warm."
Then who will I play with?
The ducks can't leave. I make a plan.
If I feed them enough, they won't go."
Moving requires resilience and patience; for this young boy and his family, it is quite a sad time. What makes him happy are the forty-one friends he now has. They are very different from the friends he left behind; they quack, waddle, and nibble on grasses. He's a good friend. He feeds them, offers extra for those who are hurt, and checks on them carefully every time the family visits the pond. His little sister is not helpful.
There is not much he doesn't do to ensure the birds are healthy and happy. His sister wants to help, but she is pretty little to be responsible. All in all, it is a happy situation and life is good. When his mother explains that the ducks will soon need to fly south to a warmer place, the boy is consumed with the need to have them stay. Gathering plenty of food, he is hopeful. His mother's warning falls on deaf ears. With the sudden onset of freezing winter weather, the boy rushes to the park. He's too late. Sadness washes over him.
""Moving is hard." Mama says softly.
"For ducks,
for kids,
even for grown-ups.""
With the realization that his ducks are still together, he looks to his sister to help him pass the long days of winter. They pretend to be ducks, act like his old friends did, and wait together for spring when they will see the ducks again.
An author's note explains that her story is based on the family's move from New York City to Colorado during COVID, and parallels their experiences. She adds a further note ... the dos and don'ts for feeding ducks in your neighborhood. Detailed digital drawings capture emotions, setting, and seasonal changes.
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