Michael Clay Thompson has written a truly delightful novel in which the main protagonist is Fishmeal the duck. In this story Fishmeal has taken a cabin in the woods. Unbeknownst to him, danger lurks nearby in the form of the Mounching Monster, who views Fishmeal as a tasty snack. Fishmeal initially manages to avoid disaster by inviting the monster to breakfast in his cottage, but that offers him only a temporary reprieve. Soon Fishmeal is joined by Queequack, and little by little they work together to transform the Mounching Monster into a benefactor to everyone around.

The Mounching Monster is not the only one who is transformed by Fishmeal and Queequack’s influence, however. The ducks’ success with the monster is matched by their ability to convert a group of angry farmers into admirers of the monster and to make friends with a wounded wolverine. Together they aptly illustrate the good that can come of a little kindness, empathy, and a willingness to reach out to others.

This novel entertains while teaching classic words and offering wonderful turns of phrase. The story races from adventure to adventure, delivering a message that is powerful without being didactic. As with Michael’s language-illustrated classic novels, examples of interesting vocabulary, grammar, and poetic techniques appear highlighted in language illustrations, and classic words are defined at the bottoms of the pages. This is a book that will teach language arts while imparting lessons of decency and integrity.