Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons

By Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis. Millbrook Press, 2023. 32 pages. $20.99/hardcover; $9.99/eBook. Recommended for ages 5–10.

This book is based upon a true story from a Wisconsin lake in 2019. Researchers from the Loon Project discovered loons raising a duckling. Mallard ducks and loons are more enemies than friends, and they live very different lives. The book describes the adaptations the family makes in order to make the relationship work.

Beautifully illustrated, the book contains back matter explaining more about the story and about differences between loons and mallards. There is also a bibliography containing articles, books, and websites for curious readers, parents, and instructors. This would be a lovely book to share and to introduce discussions about peace, family, adoption, and the environment. If you do not live in a region where loons reside, perhaps a visit to a nearby zoo would be a great follow-up activity.


Eileen Redden is the young Friends book review editor for Friends Journal. She lives in Delaware, where ducks are frequently observed but not loons.

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