Duck is Stuck and Get The Ball!
Early Bird Readers — Pink (Early Bird Stories ™) Series
What’s inside...
A delightful set of stories capturing the adventures of Duck who is stuck and needs help, and a fun tale of friends trying to retrieve a ball. Emerging readers can practice their decoding skills as they read about a group of problem-solving animals and a dog who must get the ball at any cost! Fun activities get readers thinking past the page.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Duck feels when he's stuck? How would you feel in his place?
How did Duck's friends help him? Why is it important to help others?
What are some ways you can help your friends if they are stuck or in trouble?
Can you think of a time when you were like the ball, excited to go somewhere? What happened?
What do you think is the message of the story? How can we apply it in our daily lives?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts about the book, validating their emotions and ideas throughout the conversation.
Use the discussion to teach empathy by focusing on how Duck feels and how his friends help him.
Link the story's themes to the child’s real-life experiences, asking them to recall moments when they helped someone or needed help.
Highlight the moral of the story by discussing the importance of teamwork and community support in overcoming challenges.
Encourage creativity by asking the child to imagine different endings or additional problems the characters could face and solve together.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem solving
Explanation: In 'Duck is Stuck,' the duck encounters a problem that he can't solve alone and requires thinking creatively to get unstuck.
Real-World Application: Children will learn the importance of thinking through problems and finding solutions, which can be applied in school tasks or interpersonal conflicts.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The story shows how different animals come together to help the duck, emphasizing cooperation.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of working with others to achieve a common goal, applicable in group projects or family tasks.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: In 'Get The Ball!', the characters face challenges in retrieving the ball but continue to try despite difficulties.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of not giving up easily, whether it's in learning a new skill or during sports.
Example Lesson: Sharing
Explanation: The resolution of 'Get The Ball!' involves characters learning to share the ball and play together.
Real-World Application: This highlights the importance of sharing with peers, which is an essential skill in communal and educational settings.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Both stories show characters thinking of inventive solutions, like forming a tower or using tools to retrieve the ball.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use their imagination and creativity in problem-solving, which is beneficial in artistic and academic endeavors.