Hello, Mandarin Duck!

January 1, 2021
A lost mandarin duck is welcomed to the neighborhood as its residents celebrate culture and community on May Day. On their way to attend the May Day Parade, Hoa and Hue discover a lost mandarin duck in the park. As they try to lead it to the pond they encounter many of their friends, who greet the duck in different languages. From the unfazed faces of the characters to the consistent typeface, color, and font, these multilingual introductions are presented with a sense of normalcy and affirmation. Hoa and Hue greet the duck speaking Vietnamese, and their friends variously offer greetings in Dakota, Tamil, Somali, Cambodian, and Russian, among others. The bright and cheery cartoon illustrations capture the exuberance and vibrant energy surrounding the day's events. Background images incorporate the social activism associated with the real-life parade in Minneapolis on which the book's event is based. Readers will spot signs emblazoned "Black Lives Matter," "Say No to Homophobia," and "No DAPL" (referring to the Dakota Access Pipeline) as well as a banner saying "End Deportation." A brief scene acknowledges the fear and uncertainty caused by a surprise appearance from the police. Hoa and Hue are cued as Vietnamese, and the rest of the characters are depicted in a variety of skin tones and hair colors. A joyous and inclusive primer on how communities can unite to welcome newcomers. (author's note, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)

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Starred review from March 1, 2021

K-Gr 3-A lone mandarin duck has wandered into the local May Day Parade, and twins Hue and Hoa greet it in Vietnamese. As the duck walks through the parade, various neighborhood children stop to greet it in different languages, helping to lead it to water. Eventually, the bird leads the whole parade to the pond! The languages used are not specifically indicated except in the back matter. The wide array includes Indigenous languages, such as Anishinaabe and Dakota. Issues of social justice are woven in through background images, such as paradegoers carrying signs stating "Black Lives Matter," "No DAPL," and "We have only one Earth." There is also a moment when police sirens go off and everything is dark and quiet, highlighting the fears of various community members. The back matter provides information about the author's experience with a similar event and what being and feeling welcome means to him. The artwork flows nicely with the text, enhancing the story. The illustrations are colorful, and the use of linework and shading will draw readers in. VERDICT A solid addition to collections, especially where titles about belonging are needed.-Kristyn Dorfman, The Nightingale-Bamford Sch., New York City

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