Mail Duck: A Book of Shapes and Surprises

Mail Duck begins his mail route with numerous packages to deliver to his friends, and to the delight of young readers, each package (and flap to lift) is the recipient’s favorite shape: Trudy the Mouse loves triangles and receives a triangular package, while Cecil the Snail loves circles and receives a circular package. Each page also depicts the friends’ homes in the shape of, and filled with, their favorite shapes. Scout the Beaver, who loves squares, has a square home with square windows, square cupboards, and a square fireplace; while Omar the Owl, who loves ovals, has an oval-shaped home in a tree stocked with a watermelon and olives. Upon lifting the flap, readers will discover that each package contains something for a party, and when Duck thinks his work is done and his truck is empty, readers will be surprised to find all the friends are hiding inside, ready to throw a party for Duck when two full-page flaps are opened. Sirotich’s illustrations are full of fun details to observe in each friend’s home—in a particularly notable moment, a baby owl is seen cracking from an egg in the reflection of a mirror. Even the landscapes of each home match the favored shape—rectangular fences, oval leaves, and circular fruit trees.