Mama's Little Duckling

by Marjorie Blain Parker, Mike Wohnoutka (Illustrator)

Exploring the pond on his own and visiting his friends--Dragonfly, Little Polliwog, and the Centipedes--Dandelion Duckling keeps his ears open for his mother's quacks warning him of danger, but when his mother fails to see the weasel in the willows one afternoon, it is up to Dandelion to remember the lessons he's been taught.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2008

About the author

She was born on 2 March 1960 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of William Ross (a lawyer), and Sandra Joan Blain (a language arts teacher). She married US citizen Jay Gordon Parker in 1986 and they had three children, Steven, Casey, and Rachel.

Blain attended the University of Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Commerce in 1982. After marriage she moved to live in the USA with her husband.

After she won her first ribbon for a poem published in the school bulletin during third grade, she has said that she became hooked on writing. After moving to the USA away from her family and friends, she took a correspondence course on writing for children with the aim of gaining a hobby.

Reviews

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with an adorable duckling! Fun for all ages.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama Duck and her Dandelion Duckling love each other and are always together. Then one day Dandelion wants to go on an explore all by himself, although he doesn’t know his mama is still looking out for him. She warns him of danger a few times, but then she herself is in danger. Sweet story and illustrations.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watch out little duckling, watch out mama.

[Emileigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3.5 year old son looooooves this book.

[Elizabeth Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the full circle moment with the duckling and his mama.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute find at the library. My daughter loves ducks and the illustrations looked like a style I liked from the cover.

I actually really liked the story. It was about mama duck constantly reminding her baby to be vigilant about his surroundings. Baby duck needed savings a couple times because he wasn't paying attention, but mama was there. At the very end, Baby duck saves his mom!

I think this is a great book to read to young kids to teach them about the dangers of the world. While we don't want them to be afraid of everything, teaching them to be vigilant about what and who is around them is key. Being cautious is good. Being afraid is not good. I loved that mama duck still let her baby go play with his friends, but stayed close by watching.

At the same time, it has a good message for parents also that you can't be too protective. Your kids need the independence otherwise they will never learn how to care for themselves. It also showed that he did learn to keep his eye out and he actually saved his mom.

I was really happy with this story. It also had beautiful illustrations that were almost in a watercolor style. They were soft and they filled the entire page. This is a book we will pick up again when my daughter is older as part of "stranger danger" type lessons.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dandelion Duckling is an adventurous one. His mother often warns him about the dangers in the pond. Dandelion ducking is not always paying attention. Only when his mother yells for danger does he get out of the way. One day, though, it's Dandelion Duckling who yells danger so his mother can get out of the way.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

mama's little duckling
illustrated very colorful children's book about how a duck is ready to let her little ducking start venturing out to
see the world. she tells her to be aware of the bad things out there, in the water, on the shore and in the air.
the duckling does see these things and remembers what her mama told her and is able to get back home where she is safe.

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations, but the text is too long and drawn out. Also, I wasn't all that impressed by how the main character solves the problem--he is suddenly able to "sense" danger when he wasn't before.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dandelion Duckling wants to be adventurous, to venture out from his mama; and she always cautions him to watch out for danger and to be careful. Three times he does not see danger, but his mama does. She calls for him, and he races back. The fourth time he sees the danger that his mama does not.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My five-year-old requested multiple readings of this book about a mother duck who realizes her baby is ready for some independence.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story for moms afraid to loosen the leash and there are good lessons for kids wanting freedom too. A little long for pre-K storytime.

[Tina B · Rating 4 out of 5]

"safety, mothers, ducks, little duckling learns to watch for danger"

[Jaylin Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mama duck has to keep a close eye on her duckling to keep it safe.

[Kristin Sprague · Rating 5 out of 5]

mom's always love their babies.

[Megen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a cute story about a little duckling who explores the pond and encounters a dangerous situation. It is then up to his friend, the Dandelion, to save him from the Weasel.

[Caitlin]

The story was okay, but the illustrations were SO CUTE.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found the story to be mediocre, but loved the illustrations. The story had the feeling of a dime a dozen book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3.5yo son LOVED this book. As soon as it was done he asked if he could get it for Christmas.
A super cute book about a mama duck and duckling, dangers, and friends. The ending is really great.

[Zaidee · Rating 4 out of 5]

similar to Little Loon and Papa