PreSchool-Grade 1?Baby Duck faces the world with a cheery smile, one foot in front of the other, especially on the day of his very first swim. His beloved teddy tucked under his arm, he goes to the pond with his mother and two sisters. Once there, though, the fledgling is frozen with fear. The water's too cold, the pond is too big, rain and wind have come up. Everyone, from the fish to the frog, urges him on, to no avail. And just when it seems that things couldn't get worse, teddy somehow goes flying into the water. Overcome by his toy's plight, Baby Duck jumps in without hesitation and?as readers knew he would?realizes that the water is fine after all. This charming story reaches its dramatic climax slowly but is quickly resolved, which will be to the delight of young readers and listeners. Although comparisons to that other Baby Duck (Amy Hest's) are inevitable and the resemblance is striking, this fellow has enough personality to stand on his own two webbed feet. A great choice for sharing one-on-one or for storytime.?Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY