The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck

Jemima Puddle-duck is determined to hatch her own eggs, despite the farmwife’s insistence that someone else should do the job. After her eggs are repeatedly taken away, Jemima leaves the farm in search of a quiet nesting place where she can finally raise a brood of ducklings in peace.

Deep in the woods, she meets a charming, well-dressed gentleman with sandy whiskers and a very polite manner. He offers her a secluded shed filled with soft feathers and promises to help care for her nest, while Jemima eagerly lays her eggs and prepares to begin sitting on them. But her new friend’s unusual home, curious interest in her eggs, and invitation to a private dinner give this gentle farmyard adventure an undercurrent of suspense. With its expressive characters, playful language, and richly illustrated woodland setting, this is a delightful story about independence, trust, and the hazards of being too easily flattered.