FRENCH DUCKS IN VENICE is the story of two not actually French ducks in Venice (California) and the princess they love. Well, Polina Panova is really a Russian dressmaker, but to Georges and his sister, Cécile, she is as lovely and talented as a princess should be. Polina makes beautiful dresses with “thread, silk, cotton and velvet,” and also with “grass, flowers, pieces of the night sky and strawberry jam,” she explains. But when her prince, a filmmaker named Sebastian Sterling, goes away forever, there is more sadness than beauty in Polina's life.

Georges and Cécile try to stop Sebastian from leaving, but it is no use. All Polina tells the ducks is that he “had to go.” Instead of trying to find Sebastian and bring him back to Polina, Georges sets out to find a present for Polina, one that will bring beauty and happiness back into her life. His search for the perfect gift takes him far from the canals of Venice and out over the sea. Where the ocean meets the sky, Georges finds something for his princess --- something golden and soothing, something to inspire her and make her feel at least a little better.

FRENCH DUCKS IN VENICE is author Garret Freymann-Weyr's first picture book. The story is rich and emotionally sophisticated but told in a straightforward and delightful way. The plain language, however, is sometimes at odds with the depth of the story: the content seems intended for older readers, yet the wording seems a bit young. The illustrations by Erin McGuire are graceful and sweet, and capture all that is compelling in the story. Though the narrative has a few missteps, it remains a unique approach to the theme of broken-heartedness and the joys and comforts found in true friends.

A bittersweet twist on fairy tale romance, this story is about the power of friendship and unconditional love and the importance of patience and creative work. It doesn't shy away from the pain of loss but presents it in an honest way. Polina will always be “a little bit sad,” but with the help of her friends, she will be happy, too.