What’s inside...
The unnamed narrator of this story assumes that Duck both loves and needs him. When Duck goes missing, things like playing in the bath, story time and even chocolate cake lose their appeal. Photographs and text depict the growth and development of a duck from egg to its sixth week.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-5
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the duck feels when it's swimming in the pond?
What do you think ducks like to do for fun?
Why do you think ducks quack?
Can you imagine what it would be like to be a duck for a day?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story. Use expressions and voice modulation to make the story come alive. Relate the duck's experiences in the book to real-life observations of ducks at a local pond or park, if possible. Ask your child to draw a picture of a scene from the book, enhancing their connection to the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story showcases the daily life of a duck, emphasizing its routine and tasks, such as caring for its ducklings.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of daily duties and looking after those who depend on them, mirroring how they might care for pets or help with younger siblings.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As the duck interacts with other pond creatures, it demonstrates kindness and understanding.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be considerate and understand feelings of others in their interactions at school or in the playground.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Learning
Explanation: The duck explores its environment, encountering various elements of pond life, which sparks its curiosity.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to explore their own environments and learn from their surroundings, fostering a love for nature and discovery.
Example Lesson: Adaptability
Explanation: The duck adjusts to changes in its habitat and weather conditions, showing resilience.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to adapt to changes in their own lives, such as moving to a new place or dealing with weather variations.
Example Lesson: Life Cycles
Explanation: The book covers aspects of the duck’s life cycle, including hatching from eggs and growing up.
Real-World Application: Kids understand biological processes and the concept of growth and development, which can be related to their own growth stages and learning paths.