Emily Arnold McCully

"Even by 1800s standards, Ada Byron Lovelace had an unusual upbringing. Her strict mother worked hard at cultivating her own role as the long-suffering ex-wife of bad-boy poet Lord Byron while raising Ada in isolation. Tutored by the brightest minds, Ada developed a hunger for mental puzzles, mathematical conundrums, and scientific discovery that kept pace with the breathtaking advances of the industrial and social revolutions taking place in Europe....

Mother duck and little ducks are taking a walk. On their way, they cross a drainage grate that has holes in it. Mother duck's feet are large enough to walk on it, but when the little ducks follow her, they fall through the holes into the sewer water. Mother duck is frantic to get her babies and they keep looking up to her for help.

From her pond in the city park, Sophie, a swan, loves to watch the dancers in Madam Myrtle's Studio. She longs to join them, but Madam shoos her away. Then one day a much jollier teacher, Miss Willow, comes to class. Although Sophie is feathered, winged, and webbed, Miss Willow permits her to stay. When the school performs Swan Lake, the part of the swan seems perfect for Sophie—but she can only hope she'll make the cast. Two great artists

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