French Ducks in Venice

A magical, lyrical, beautifully illustrated tale about friendship and healing—and the joys and risks of staying open to love, even in the face of loss.



Siblings George and Cecile live in Venice, California, but think of themselves as French ducks. They have an important friend, Polina Panova, who conjures magical dresses of thread, silk, and velvet . . . of grass, pieces of night sky, and strawberry jam. To the ducks, who delight in her daily visits, Polina is a princess. But when Polina's prince—who makes movies almost as luminous as her dresses—decides to go away, life on the canal changes, and so does Polina. What are two steadfast and affectionate French ducks to do? Save admit that every broken heart mends on its own time, in its own way? From an acclaimed Y A author and a talented debut illustrator comes a storybook classic full of light and hush, wisdom and whimsy, about patient friendship and the healing power of time.

Garret Freymann-Weyr is the author of many acclaimed books for young adults, including MY HEARTBEAT, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, STAY WITH ME, and AFTER THE MOMENT. About French Ducks in Venice, her first picture book, she says, I used to feed the ducks in Central Park and was thrilled to find them in Venice.” She currently lives in North Carolina.



Erin McGuire is a fine artist and freelance illustrator. This is her first picture book. She lives in Texas.

About Freymann-Weyr Garret