Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

July 2023

• ISBN: 9781460761649
• ISBN 10: 1460761642
• Imprint: HarperCollins AU
• RRP: $22.99

This is a sweet picture book with a fun twist on an old rhyme and illustrated delectably, which will be an engaging read for your teenies and easily segue into some useful learning activities.

Mother Duck is, as you would expect, a nurturer and is quite equable about every animal in the farmyard joining Little Duck at the dinner table, one by one. Observant children will be amused as the cooking pot is a bigger one in each spread, and the pile of crockery and cutlery expands each time.

The barnyard friends have a different adventure each day – puddling in the creek, braving the rain, playing at the beach – and finally, going camping, which must be great fun. But poor Mother Duck is left sad and alone at home, wondering where everyone has gone. Luckily, she’s not alone for long and Little Duck comes waddling home from over the hills and far away, after a lovely bit of tent time.

This is super cute and because most children will have a good familiarity with the original, you will generate lots of discussion with this innovation. And, of course, Danny Snell’s illustrations are just sublime!

in all this will bring much joy as a read-aloud for class or home and as well as the teaching notes provided (written by yours truly) – I have some additional activity ideas on the Freebies page :-). Highly recommended for little humans from around 2 upwards – why wait? get quacking!!