Little Ducky does not have it easy. He is last to hatch, last to peep, and last to learn to swim. He is afraid of water and heights, and on top of that, he stutters! His brothers make fun of him, and he soon becomes very discouraged. His sister Daisy steps in to help him. She knows just how kind and smart he is. But when they discover that Ducky needs glasses, even Daisy's not so sure the other ducklings will ever accept him. With his new goggle-glasses, Ducky quickly learns how to land and starts flying with the rest of the ducklings. Soon it's time to migrate and Ducky's worst fear comes true. He gets lost in migration! Ducky sets off to find his family, but instead, he meets Pippy, an adventurous young squirrel, who offers to take Ducky home with him. Lady, a feisty ladybug, tags along. Ducky's story and courage inspire Pippy. He wants to help Ducky migrate. Henry, a wise old turkey, is also inspired by Ducky's story. He too has a dream. His is to visit The Great Thanksgiving Turkey Memorial. He offers to chaperone their strange migration. Without knowing for sure if they will find Ducky's family, they set out on their big adventure. Along the way they learn the true value of friendship and family. With humor, heart, and lovable characters, The Adventures of Ducky and Pippy interweaves the big issues of childhood: bullying, fitting in, growing-up, and self-acceptance. For children with disabilities, these issues are often even more difficult. Parents and teachers will find the story to be a great tool for building tolerance and empathy in their children and students.
About the Author: Kristine Valdivia has been a teacher for many years. She taught bilingual elementary for 10 years, and now teaches English Language Learners at the High School level. She is the mother of three grown and nearly grown children, two of whom have special needs. The resiliency, perseverance, dedication, and commitment she's observed in many of her students and children have inspired her greatly. Some of those characteristics have found their way into the characters in The Adventures of Ducky and Pippy. She searched for a story in which the hero had a disability, but the story didn't center around it. She wanted to find a story that focused on the characters and how they grew through the experience of having a disability or being around someone who had a disability. Not finding that story, she decided to write it. She spent many evenings and a few summers working out the details and the twists and turns of Ducky. In the end, The Adventures of Ducky and Pippy became a very important story for her to tell. She hopes that it will inspire children to find their own voice and speak their truth, even if it isn't what everyone else is doing.