The Chick and the Duckling

The Chick and the Duckling
Mirra Ginsburg ~ pictures by José Aruego & Ariane Dewey ~ Macmillan, 1972

Though at this point The Chick and the Duckling is a wee bit baby for my son, when we are out thrifting, of course anything with a bird on the cover gets tossed in the bag. Thus how this title found its way onto his bookshelf recently. I've always loved the three-way combo of Ginsburg/Aruego/Dewy, so even though the story is extremely short and simple, I didn't turn up my nose. And in fact, now that I've read through it aloud no less than a dozen times, the moral is one we are currently struggling with... that is the "if everyone jumped off a bridge would you do it?" faze of preschoolerdome. He's gotten to emulating the nasty behavior of some of his class mates, and we've been trying (in vane) to reel it in, so this story helps give our finger shaking some tangibility.

So, there's this chick see, and he wants to do everything his little duck friend does.

"I found a worm," said the Duckling.
"Me too," said the Chick.
"I caught a butterfly," said the Duckling.
"Me too," said the Chick.
"I am going for a swim," said the Duckling.
"Me too," said the Chick.

Now, it doesn't take a genius to figure out this doesn't end well. I'm hoping the meaning sinks in with him that chickens can't swim, and that sometimes it's not so cool to do all the things your friends do. And, of course, that ducks and chicks can still be friends despite their differences in flotation.Also by:
How the Sun Was Brought Back to the Sky