Chronicle Books, $16.99; ages 4 to 8. Stella Wells is a fledgling scientist, and she knows all about the scientific method. With a Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.

I grew up in northeast Ohio in the 1970s, which meant, as a duck hunter , I grew up hearing duck sounds from mallards and black ducks, both of which quack. My father and I didn’t attempt to call wood ...