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Sitting Ducks is geared toward the children’s market, but many adults will recognize author/illustrator Michael Bedard’s artwork. Best known for his poster illustrations, Bedard makes his debut in picture books with a wonderful story about an odd-couple friendship between a factory-employed alligator and factory-hatched duck. Ducks are normally the primary meal in the alligator’s world, but a chance meeting forges a friendship between these two. The alligator does what he can to protect his little friend, but alas, the duck wants to see the world that lies beyond the alligator’s apartment. The only chance the little duck has for survival is to leave the alligator’s world forever, but that would leave the alligator alone and heartbroken right? Sitting Ducks teaches lessons in friendship and diversity, and Bedard’s hilarious illustrations will keep readers smiling, even through the not-so-happy parts.

The unfortunate reality of today’s society is that children cannot remain innocent for very long. They need to be aware of the various potentially dangerous situations they may face and the ways in which they can best handle these situations. With the majority of households having parents who work outside the home, children are now responsible for their own welfare at a much earlier age than in the past.

The Safe Zone provides children, ages eight and up, and their parents positive ways to identify and prepare for these threatening situations. In an easy-to-read format, the authors discuss issues ranging from dealing with bullies to that of safety away from home.

The language is concise and clear. Topics are introduced in a matter-of-fact manner without any sense of alarm. Each chapter provides what if scenarios for the reader to ponder, real-life situations and photos, and specific techniques to use to de-escalate the situations. Interspersed throughout the book are skills, such as the use of peripheral vision, for children to practice.

Chaiet and Russell liken the reading of their book to preparing for a fire. They feel children should practice the skills they offer in the book and plan ahead for their own safety. They emphasize the idea that self-defense does not necessarily mean the use of physical force.

Throughout the book they stress four key elements as essential for self-defense: awareness of your environment, use of body language, importance of self-esteem, and the enforcement of both emotional and physical boundaries. The authors believe that if a child has practiced all four of these factors and keeps them in mind, he or she should have a minimal number of problems. In addition, The Safe Zone also stresses the importance of children trusting their gut when reacting to a particular situation.

In a more perfect world, this book would not be necessary. Children would be able to live worry-free lives. However, such a utopia does not exist at present perhaps it never did and we must prepare our children to live in our society as it exists today. Ideally, children and parents should read The Safe Zone together, and after much discussion, determine the best preparation for each family to take.

Karen Chikofsky is a reviewer of children’s books in Brooklyn, New York.

Imagination is a wonderful thing, and it seems most active in children when it’s bedtime. Author and illustrator Marc Sutherland is no child, but his imagination is terrific in his first book, The Waiting Place. He has positioned himself as a child in bed on one of those sleepless nights when my toes itch, and the rickety floorboards creak . . . And the rusty old bedsprings squeak and imagination soars.

All sorts of creatures dance into the bedroom through the open window. They in turn create faraway places and adventures for the sleepless child a submarine ride deep in the sea, a visit to the North Woods, sailing in a longboat with Vikings, riding to the moon in a hot-air ballon. Sutherland introduces each new flight of fancy with a brief verse.

The best surprise comes with daylight when the child discovers a blizzard blew in with the morning and the reality of a day’s play in the snow takes hold. For the first time, readers see the child standing at the open window ready to meet the day.

Sutherland’s detailed, black-and-white illustrations fill the child’s room just beyond the foot of the bed on each spread. They are captivating. Don’t think you can read this bedtime book once and call it a day. Any child not half asleep will want to look for the apple that appears in every picture. You may find yourself going back to look at the Latin motto carried by the Queen’s soldiers or trying to figure out the next move on the chess board. Sutherland has been drawing and painting since he was a boy perhaps not too long ago since he’s in his early thirties. Born in Quebec, he attended art school before returning to the woods in New Hampshire, where he lives and works as a forester. There he has had time to imagine and create these unbelievably rich charcoal drawings. Marian Schonfelter is a first grade teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.