A mother duck leads her brood around the pond as she searches for one missing duckling. A duckling is missing! Mother Duck sails frantically around the pond, with the rest of her brood behind her. But none of the pond residents has seen the little duckling, not bird, not turtle, not beaver, not fish. But clever readers can see that duckling isn't lost at all--just adventuring, and never far away.

Pigeon is very angry when the duckling gets a cookie just by asking politely.

Separated from her husband and driven from her home by hunters, Mrs. Quack finds refuge with the animals of the Green Forest.

Various animals tell how they saw, fed, sang to, tickled, and kissed the new duckling.

Jemima Puddle-duck is determined to hatch her own eggs. But she needs a quiet, safe place to build her nest. The spot she chooses, guarded by an elegantly dressed gentleman, looks safe enough but turns out to be a very dangerous place indeed!.

One day, Duck decides to try riding a bike. As he rides past all the farm animals, everyone has different thoughts about Duck's idea. Each animal's thoughts, in expressions from boredom to envy, are perfectly illustrated.

Max the duck wishes he could do something for the other animals living at Irene's house, but when his aunts arrive for a visit he gets more than his fill of being helpful.

Little Duck, Big Duck, and Porcupine discover new ways to use books, put together a talent show, and play doctor and patient.

"Big Duck likes to boss around her younger brother, Little Duck, and she fancies herself the leader of their trio when joined by their gentle friend Porcupine. Little Duck does not speak yet, but through his expressions and his actions, he shows that he has a better grasp on any situation than his older sister"--

Mother Duck is on the run trying to keep her ducklings safe.