Gracie the Public Gardens Duck

Written by Judith Meyrick
Illustrated by Richard Rudnicki
NIMBUS PUBLISHING 2007
ISBN 978-1-55109-645-2

Ages 4-10. Winner of the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Illustration, and runner-up for the APMA Best Atlantic Published Book Award. Gracie has a nice, comfortable life in the Halifax Public Gardens. Her days are full of swimming in lakes and fountains, napping in bushes, and gobbling up the delicious treats that the visitors to the park bring especially for her. Muffins, popcorn, and peanut butter sandwiches. Yum! Gracie loves the attention and the company she gets from people but she especially loves all the food. One day, however, Gracie’s favourite people stop giving her food. What’s happening? Why won’t anyone share their lunch? Aren’t they worried that she’ll starve? Despite her best efforts, Gracie’s turned away by all her food sources, and to fill up she has to turn to -- well, duck food -- and despite herself, she starts to enjoy it. Gracie, the Public Gardens Duck is a funny and sweet story, reminiscent of classic children’s literature, but with a modern heroine -- one hungry duck in search of dinner!