"John Philip Duck"

John Philip Duck

Author and Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Philomel Books, 2004

Picture Book, Multicultural K-2

This is a story of Edward who lives in the foothills of Tennessee during the depression. Edward and his father work at the same motel in Memphis. During the week, he and his father stay at the hotel but on the weekends, Edward and his father come home to the farm. One day on the farm, Edward found a little duckling. He begged his mother and father to allow him to take care of the duck and nurse it back to health. His father allowed him to take it to the hotel, where he stayed in a cardboard box in the kitchen beside the cookstove but soon he started to venture into the halls. The staff of the hotel all worked together to keep the duck a secret from the strict manager, Mr. Schutt. One day, Edward showed the staff how the duck would dance to a John Philip Sousa march. This is where he got his name: John Philip Duck. One day, Mr. Schutt's hunting buddies came and put their live duck decoys into the lobby fountain pool, where John Philip Duck was also put to keep hidden from Mr. Schutt. When the men starting putting the ducks back into their cages, John Philip was caught! Edward yelled, "Wait one of them ducks is my pet." Mr. Schutt was mad! When Edward was allowed to show him the duck's tricks, everyone in the hotel cheered! Mr. Schutt gave Edward one month to train all the ducks that way and to train them to not come out of the fountain. When one month was over, all the ducks passed the test! They were able to perform the tricks that Edward taught them and stayed in the fountain all day. Edward was given a new uniform-one with shiny brass buttons and he was declard the official Duck master of the Peabody Hotel, where he stayed for fifty years! When he returned back to his farm, he played a John Philip Sousa march and all his graduates came flying to the pond to their beloved Duckmaster.

I enjoyed this fun story of John Philip Duck. It defintley made me smile and laugh! I believe that students would enjoy this book, for it is humorous. I think that it is rather comical to think about a duck marching to music! I also enjoyed Edward's lively spirit. The book even calls him a "dreamer." He says that someday that he will have a snappy uniform with shiny brass buttons and very soon his dream was fulfilled when he became the duckmaster of the hotel. Before he met John Philip duck, he sees the formation of the geese in the sky and wonders why they all follow a leader and wishes that he could be one of them, so he could see one up close. This dream also comes true.

The illustrations are done in watercolor and pencil. They do a great job of communicating the story and would hold students attention while the text is being read. The pencil art does a great job of conveying different emotions, from the angty Mr. Schutt to the excited Edward. Students will be captured by the scenes of the book, for they are double spread. There are many details that need to be taken in across the double spreads. I also believe that the text fit the illustratons because the text is placed in a different spot on each page, wherever there is a free space from the illustrations.

There are many ways that this book can be used in the classroom to teach different aspects. Teachers could explain to thier students the causes of the great depression and share photos with them. Students should understand that this was a very difficuilt time, and many farmers had to close their farms because they were not making enough money to provide for their families. This is why Edward and his father had to go find work in the city. Their farm was not providing for the family. Students can also hear John Philip Sousa march that the ducks marched to. Maybe students could even march around the room and pretend that ducks were teaching ducks to march!

The teacher can also relate this story to the students by asking them if they have a pet that they deeply care about. Does this pet like to follow you around? Have you taught your pet tricks that you would like to show others? Can you see a similarity in your relationship with your pet and the relationship that Edward had with John Philip Duck? What about your pet's name? Did you come up with it in a similiar way that Edward did for his duck?

I believe that students would greatly enjoying this book. They would laugh and learn at the same time!