Lewis (Good Night, Harry
) focuses on the artwork in this story, which is set into motion when the words “It's time for us to go home” send ducklings Henry and Seymour scampering in the opposite direction. Patient work with colored pencil and chalk produces densely textured areas of pondside plant life: leaves look velvety, or long and sharp and stiff, or lettuce-like. Depicted as toys, Seymour and Henry have button eyes, fuzzy topknots, overstuffed yellow bodies and enormous orange feet. The way the two crumple up when they tumble down hills (“Slippy-slidey-bump”) or shuffle into tight spaces will delight an audience of children just starting to follow a book-length story. Ages 2–up. (Feb.)
