For teachers and parents
Ducky Wells is a real mallard, and so are her friends. Every photo in the books and on this site was taken along Luckakuck Creek in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The first book was made in 2015 for a grade 2 class at a local elementary school, to show children the wildlife living right in their own neighbourhood.
Using the books in class
The stories are written for children around ages 5 to 8, as read-alouds or for early readers. Each book connects to a familiar classroom topic:
- Pot Luck: where animals are born: nests, dens, tree holes and creek gravel.
- Road Trip!: how herons nest together, raise their chicks and share a heronry.
- Roberta and Robbie Robin: the life cycle of a robin, from egg to chick to grown-up.
- Ducky and the Bandits: raccoons, and why sharing beats sneaking.
Together they cover life cycles, animal homes and habitats, and how animals raise their young, all through local species children may see on their way to school.
Questions to talk about
- Ducky thought everyone was born in a pot. What other homes did her friends have? Why does each home suit that animal?
- Which of Ducky's friends have you seen near your home or school?
- Robbie grew from an egg to a chick to a grown-up. What other animals change as they grow?
- Why did the Bandits' plan go wrong? What did Ducky want them to learn?
- Why should we watch wild animals from a distance and never feed them?
Activities on this site
The games page has a "Who was born where?" matching game that also prints as a worksheet, plus riddles and a photo puzzle. Each friend's page has true facts, the animal's scientific name with a pronunciation guide, and a "Read it to me" button that uses the device's built-in voice.
See the herons for yourself
In Road Trip, Charlie takes Ducky's family to the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack. The reserve's trails and Rotary Interpretive Centre make a good field trip, especially in spring, when the heron colony is busy with chicks.
Being kind to wildlife
- Watch quietly from a distance, and use binoculars if you have them.
- Never feed wild animals. Human food can make them sick, and it teaches them to come too close to people.
- If you find a baby animal alone, leave it where it is. Its parent is usually nearby.
The books
The four Ducky Wells books are being refreshed for a new edition. Check back here for news.
Privacy
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