A lonely quack starts the sweetest rescue of Rusty's day.Rusty-Ellie's loyal, red-and-white Australian Shepherd-discovers a lost duckling in Maple Park. With steady steps and a wagging tail, he helps her cross a busy playground, skirt a tricky creek, and follow the soft calls of a careful mother duck. This gentle, realistic adventure shows how calm choices and teamwork can solve big problems for small friends.Why kids (and grownups) love itJust-right chapters: 10 chapters, 350-500 words each-confidence-building for ages 7-10 and perfect for bedtime or classroom read-alouds.Real-world, no-magic adventure: Nature, neighbors, and responsible animal care take center stage.Heart-forward lessons: Empathy, patience, observation, and community kindness.Dog-true behavior: Rusty communicates with body language, barks, and brave actions-never human words.Series friendly: A stand-alone story in the wholesome Rusty collection by David Majzner.If your reader enjoys animal heroes, gentle mysteries, and feel-good endings, Rusty and the Lost Duckling will be a favorite from the first quack to the last wag.