"Come little ducklings," Mama called.
"Paddle on the water with me."
The five little ducklings squeezed close in the nest.
"No, Mama, no!" they cried. "We're too scared!"
"You can do it," Mama said, "I know you can."
Summary:
Mama Duck tells her five little ducklings, Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, Puddle, and Little Quack that it's time to leave their soft nest. She coaxes them to come out on the water with her, and they are afraid. But with a little encouragement from Mama Duck, one by one the little ducklings face their fears and jump into the water. Little Quack is last to go, but he is "just too scared." Can he be brave?
For Teachers and Librarians:
Little Quack is a sweet story about having courage and trusting in yourself. Your little guys will delight in the whimsical, brightly painted illustrations. They will cheer on each little duck as they heed their mother's gentle encouragement to "Paddle on the water with me." The children will easily make the connection between trusting in yourself and facing your fears, and will delight as each duckling splishes, splashes, splooshes and sploshes their way into the pond. A fun bonus is the "Quack-U-Lator" that runs along the bottom of the pages: a simple introduction to addition that they will enjoy chanting along with each time it appears.
For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:
Little Quack is fun to read aloud with your small fries. They will be entranced by the bright, expressive illustrations, so be sure to linger a while after reading each page to let them drink in the pictures fully. They will love the different personalities of each little duckling, and will identify easily with having to face something new. The Quack-U-Lator is a fun introduction to addition - be sure to let them follow and chant along as you read it each time.
Wrapping Up:
Little Quack is bright, colorful, fun, and reassuring. It subtly teaches the little guys to trust in themselves, and throws in a little bit of easy math to boot. What's not to like?
Title: Little Quack
Author: Lauren Thompson
Illustrator: Derek Anderson
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Baby-Preschool
Publisher and Date: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2003
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Published In: United States
Price: $15.99
ISBN-10: 0689847238
ISBN-13: 978-0689847233
