Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 3-8). Susan the duck feels unlucky when the roller skates she ordered online are two sizes too big. But she feels lucky when a wolf shows up at her door to tell her she’s won a free pot. Kitchen light burns out and the pickle jar is empty? Unlucky. Free onions, celery, and carrots from the wolf? Lucky. Finally, just as Susan’s luck seems to have completely run out, the tables are turned, and all the unlucky things turn out to be the best kind of luck.

I’ve been reading this book all week to the K-2 crowd, and it’s been a big hit. I’ve paired it with Mo Willems’ That Is Not a Good Idea, another tale of duck vs. canine (fox), which also has a surprise twist near the end. If you want to dig deeper, you can talk about what’s lucky and what’s unlucky, and how those things are subject to change, sometimes depending on how you look at them.

What’s New, Daniel? by Micha Archer. In the third book about Daniel, he meets his grandpa in the park. “What’s new, Daniel?” Grandpa asks. “Um, I don’t know yet,” Daniel replies. “I’ll go find out.” As he gathers the news from his friends in the park–Rock, Blackbird, Duck, Polliwog, Snake, Squirrel, and Butterfly–Daniel remembers things that are new with him, too. He’s learned to whistle, he has a new tooth, and his legs have grown so he can run faster. Back with Grandpa, Daniel gives updates on everyone, including himself, then asks Grandpa to share what’s new with him.

This is a perfect book for spring, with all the changes taking place, and Caldecott Honor artist Micha Archer has created beautiful collage illustrations that capture the blues and greens of a sunny spring day. Kids will be eager to share what’s new with them. What’s lucky? Daniel and Grandpa getting to share this perfect day together and clearly enjoying spending time with each other.

The Book That Can Read Your Mind by Marianna Coppo. (Chronicle Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). You may remember the trick this book employs from childhood magic sets, one that has apparently been around for hundreds of years. Marianna Coppo introduces a bunny magician (who pulls a man out of a hat) to read your mind. 36 different creatures, sitting in six rows of six, are introduced. You choose one without telling the reader, then tell the reader which row its in. Different rows go to different pages, where the same 36 characters are rearranged. Point out the row again, and you’ll be directed to another page that should reveal which character you picked. There’s an afterword that gives more information about the history of this trick.

The illustrations are adorable, and I’m sure kids will love doing the trick, then showing it to others. However, it is just that, a trick, and once the novelty has worn off, I imagine this book is not one that will enjoy multiple readings. But you’ll be lucky enough to have your mind read by a bunny magician, and then be able to turn around and become a magician yourself.