"Maria’s Duck Tales: Wildlife Stories From My Garden,"
by Maria Daddino, is exactly what the title suggests - a collection of acutely
observed accounts of the antics of this author’s favorite birds. But we are not
limited to ducks. There are stories about other “wild-friends” including
ospreys, Fatso the squirrel, Sara Beth and Diablo the swans, and Misty and
Gypsy the collies. There are mentions too of opossums, groundhogs and deer. But
the ducks, the Muscovies and the Pekins, are undeniably the stars. One of the
most entertaining parts of the book is about gardening with ducks. Or rather
trying to! Ducks can be very destructive and it speaks volumes about Daddino’s
patience that she can still love her ducks despite their misdeeds in her adored
garden. The author’s sense of humor abounds in many of her names for the ducks
- Peanut, Big Whitey, Ghostie and Mr. and Mrs. Whiney. In the “Introduction,” Daddino says that her “musings” are about one woman’s attempts to combine the pleasures of gardening, the joys of wildlife and the rewards of establishing a balanced mini ecosystem. She certainly achieves this and readers are entertained and educated along the way. There is humor and adventure in the tales, but also sadness at times. However, the author seems never overly-sentimental. Instead, she respects and admires the creatures around her that touch her life, and communicates both their charm and her fascination with them in her writing. There are beautiful color illustrations by Steve Ensign. A table of contents and index might have been nice additions, but on the whole, this is a polished and impressive book.
Reviewed by Stephanie D. for Readers Favorite
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