Have You Seen My Duckling?

Have You Seen My Duckling?

Author: Nancy Tafuri

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: Pre-K- Grade 1

Year Published: 1984

Summary

This book consists mainly of pictures, so it would be aimed toward a younger crowd. The main idea of this story revolves around a mother duck and all her ducklings, and there is one duckling that is separated from the rest of the ducklings, and it is hidden on the page somewhere. On every page, the reader is challenged to find the missing duckling.

About the Author

Nancy Tafuri was born in Brooklyn, New York. She was an only child for ten years, and she said that that contributed to artistic abilities, as she had to amuse herself somehow without siblings, and stories and art were the avenue that she chose. She also attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is a graphic designer, and has written and illustrated over 45 books! After being rejected in the 1970's, because her drawings were "too graphic," she was finally recognized for the talent that she is, and has been successful ever since. She really enjoys her work, and I hope she knows how much her work is enjoyed by young children!

Source: http://www.nancytafuri.com/NancyTafuri/Welcome.html

How to Use it

Pre-Reading: Discuss the types of places that ducks live, and answer any questions the children have about ducks. Explain clearly that ducklings almost always stay close and in a line behind their mothers, so that is why when they read the book, it is important that they locate the missing duckling on each different page.

Post-Reading: This book could be used as a bridge into a science activity involving real chicks and incubating real eggs. In addition, the children could each make their own pictures involving a hidden duckling, and challenge other students to find the duck on their page.

What do I Think?

I really liked this book! In my own first grade classroom, we do a unit on chicks and we actually do get real eggs, incubate them, and hatch them in the classroom! I am always looking for more books to read during this unit, and I think I will include this one this year.     I like how there are few words- it makes the drawings stand out and become even more important. 

Here is a picture of some projects that we did during our chick unit. Some of these could correspond to this book! Those chicks were adorable!!