Looking for a book I read in the early 90s

[Challmark]

Had a book pop in my head at work the other day and now I really want to find it again to see if it is as good as I remember. Unfortunately I can't remember many details. Basic plot is family moves to new planet, possibly as ambassadors or for man's job, end up caught up in a robot/slave uprising, possibly are the ones to come up with a peaceful solution. Specific details I can remember are at one point the young child of the family is at a daycare/school with a friend and they have a toy duck that can talk, either as a learning tool or a translator, somehow they are able to get it to translate what the nanites are saying in the door and find out that the side of the door is busted. They get caught with the duck and it is confiscated and when it's returned it has been reset to factory settings and they can't make it do what they did before. Also the city is completely enclosed in a wall and might possibly be a giant plant. Any help finding this book would be greatly appreciated.