Title: My Brother the Duck
Author: Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrator: Daniel Wiseman
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2020
Themes: New sibling, STEM, Ducks, red-heads
For Ages: 3 - 8 years old
Stella Wells is getting a new brother, but she is wondering if maybe her brother is actually a duck. As a fledgling scientist, she's determined to do her research and figure it all out.
Opening Lines:
I'm Stella Wells, fledgling scientist.
Scientists notice things, and so do I.
Like the fact my baby brother might be a duck.
Why I think you will love this book:
Just look at the cute illustrations. And, while my hair has changed color as I have gotten older, I was born a red-head. Maybe that's not the best reason to love a book, but if you are a red-head, you will understand how fun it is to see yourself on the page. Since this book is about science and research I will share that the rarest combination of hair color and eye color is red hair and blue eyes. I know it is apropos of nothing other than I fit in that rare category.
Stella makes me smile.
But more to why you will love this book:
If you have kids and are having another child, this is a fun, light-hearted new sibling book.
Stella is curious, a scientist, and not too sure about this new sibling.
I love Stella's friend Carla Martinez. She is smart and not willing to leap to conclusions without evidence.
So this story introduces kids to science terms and challenging words, it is funny, with a cast of diverse characters and even if you don't have a new duck coming to your family, it's just plain fun to read.
So get your hands on a copy of this book to find out if Drake is actually a duck.
Resources and Activities:
You can draw with Daniel and his son:
Print out some coloring pages and color for a while.
Do your own research on something you are curious about. What questions did Stella and Carla ask to solve the question of whether Drake is a duck? Can you apply those questions to your research?
Learn more about Pat's writing and books.
Go fishing.
Share a snack with your siblings. This week, I recommend . . .
Chewy Homemade Granola Bars. They should be safe for people and ducks. (If you are allergic to nuts, be sure to make adjustments.
Support your Local Indie Bookstore when you purchase a book.
I think PZM talked about this book in one of her webinars this year. It sounds so funny! Adding it to my TBR pile. Thanks for the reminder!