Duck Days

Irma is Lauren's best friend. Irma knows all the strategies Lauren uses when her Autism Spectrum Disorder makes it hard to "go with the flow." Lauren helps Irma learn English words and understand unfamiliar customs. So why does Irma suddenly want to introduce Lauren to her mountain-biking, litter-dropping neighbor Jonas? Why is Irma calling Jonas her friend?

As if sharing Irma weren't bad enough, Lauren also has an alarming new problem at school. Their teacher has announced a mountain biking day when the students will learn to ride their bikes on an obstacle course. But Lauren still uses training wheels. She just can't face the teasing she will get when her classmates see them. She isn't brave like Irma. She can't go with the flow like Dad. How can she possibly face this challenge? (From Pajama Press)

Duck Days is a finalist for the 2022Silver Birch ExpressAward, which celebrates fiction books for readers in Grades 3-4.

Sara Leach is a teacher-librarian and children's authorbased in Whistler, B.C. She has written nine books. Hermiddle-grade novelCount Me Inhas been translated into four languages, and won the Red CedarAward in 2013.

Rebecca Bender is a writer and illustrator based in Burlington, Ont. Her first book,Giraffe and Bird,won the Blue Spruce Award in 2012.

• Here are the 2022 Silver Birch Express Award finalists