Don't Worry, Wuddles

July 1, 2023
Drafted by an overambitious duckling, Wuddles the sheep unwittingly ends up donating a barnyard's worth of winter gear. We've all had that friend who's fleeced you into doing more than you were expecting--and the charismatic culprit here is a wee, butter-colored duckling. The duckling borrows a bit of wool from Wuddles, who is serenely encased in winter fluff, to create a spiffy scarf. It's such a success that the duckling launches a full-on fashion show. There's plenty of silliness as readers watch a frenetic duckling fit a surprised Rabbit with soft earmuffs or wrap Goose in a sweater vest. Mellow watercolors ooze old-fashioned charm, with monotone barn backgrounds contrasting with bright pops of color from the lively, charismatic barnyard animals. With raucous stream-of-consciousness narration, the duckling is both hero and villain, and the story's a kick to read aloud. While the duckling genuinely wants to help Goat avoid "extra cold" legs and to provide chilly piggies with trendy onesies, the protagonist's total obliviousness to Wuddles' expressive and increasingly chagrined face provides just the right level of conflict for young readers. Observant kiddos will notice Wuddles' voluminous fleece shrinking and predict the coming crisis--Wuddles is out of wool. They'll certainly approve of Duck's cuddly way of making amends, an enthusiastic "group hug" that wraps Wuddles in a solution as warm as, well, wool. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Adorable. Readers will flock to this barnyard charmer. (Picture book. 3-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 24, 2023
Sharing is easy—as long as the item in question belongs to someone else. That seems to be the driving philosophy of this picture book’s indefatigable duckling narrator, who decides that Wuddles the sheep, a somnolent ball of curly white fleece, can easily spare a little wool to help ward off the coming winter chill. Seeing that Wuddles barely lifts an eyelid when the duckling appropriates a scarf for itself, it immediately appoints itself Wuddles’s woolly grantmaker, seizing more wool from the increasingly agitated sheep to fashion into a hat for Rooster, leg warmers for Goat, onesies for the Piggies, and so on. “Wuddles, aren’t you relieved?” asks the duckling, not waiting for an answer. “You can always count on me to do the right thing!” Now everyone is cozy and cosseted as the snow falls—except the actual benefactor, who has been quite thoroughly fleeced. If the hug-it-out ending provides an only temporary solution for chilly Wuddles, Duckling’s energy is comically propulsive, and watercolor and pencil illustrations by Judge (Forty Winks) are downright luscious, rendered in creamy whites, warm browns, butter yellows, and blush pinks. Ages 4–8.

September 1, 2023
Should Wuddles the sheep worry? Well, yes. A little yellow duckling who insists that the big, woolly sheep needn't be concerned is literally fleecing its barnmate -- with the best intentions, however. Winter is coming, and the duckling needs a bit of wool for a scarf: "Mind if I take this, Wuddles? You have plenty of wool." Indeed Wuddles does have plenty; the sheep's placid face peeks out from a cloud of white. Next the duckling notices that the rooster needs a hat, the rabbit some earmuffs, the goat a pair of leg warmers, and so on. Readers will quickly catch on and enjoy guessing what the duckling decides to make for each successive animal. The text consists entirely of the busybody duckling's reassuring monologue as it sets out to ensure that the denizens of the barn are suitably equipped for winter. Wisp by wisp, the fleece is pulled from Wuddles's coat and fashioned into fluffy accessories -- and the sheep's expression becomes more and more worried. Inevitably, the final pages display the result of the duckling's handiwork: wool-clad animals and a near-naked sheep. Never fear, Wuddles: a group hug will keep everyone warm. Though this barnyard outing lacks the sublime physical comedy of Judge's nearly wordless romps (such as Red Sled ), her mastery of the expressive animal face is on full display. No worries here. Vicky Smith

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-Wuddles is a very fluffy sheep who surely won't mind sharing a little wool. Duckling wakes Wuddles with the news that snow is coming and some of the animals in the barn may need help staying warm. "Don't worry, Wuddles. I have it covered. You don't mind, do you?" Duckling asserts. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations perfectly capture the enthusiasm of Duckling and the increasing irritation and alarm of Wuddles. At first the sleepy sheep barely lifts an eyelid as Duckling borrows some wool to make a scarf. But each new creation has Wuddles handing out a side-eye, outright glaring, and finally bleating out a wide-eyed "Bahhhhh!" of protest. Readers will laugh as they read about onesies for piglets, slippers for Dog, and a sweater-vest for Goose. As more and more animals are included in these snow day preparations, will Duckling ever let Wuddles have a say in where the wool goes? Judge combines text and images together seamlessly to capture the boundless energy of Duckling and the bewilderment of poor Wuddles. VERDICT Perfect for fans of cumulative stories like Jan Brett's The Mitten or animal antics such as Susan Stevens Crummel's The Great Fuzz Frenzy.-Suzanne Costner

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
Should Wuddles the sheep worry? Well, yes. A little yellow duckling who insists that the big, woolly sheep needn't be concerned is literally fleecing its barnmated -- with the best intentions, however. Winter is coming, and the duckling needs a bit of wool for a scarf: "Mind if I take this, Wuddles? You have plenty of wool." Indeed Wuddles does have plenty; the sheep's placid face peeks out from a cloud of white. Next the duckling notices that the rooster needs a hat, the rabbit some earmuffs, the goat a pair of leg warmers, and so on. Readers will quickly catch on and enjoy guessing what the duckling decides to make for each successive animal. The text consists entirely of the busybody duckling's reassuring monologue as it sets out to ensure that the denizens of the barn are suitably equipped for winter. Wisp by wisp, the fleece is pulled from Wuddles's coat and fashioned into fluffy accessories -- and the sheep's expression becomes more and more worried. Inevitably, the final pages display the result of the duckling's handiwork: wool-clad animals and a near-naked sheep. Never fear, Wuddles: a group hug will keep everyone warm. Though this barnyard outing lacks the sublime physical comedy of Judge's nearly wordless romps (such as Red Sled), her mastery of the expressive animal face is on full display. No worries here.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)