Davy and the Duckling
Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas
SYNOPSIS:
When the baby duck hatched, the first thing it saw was Davy. It fluffed its feathers - and
started following Davy everywhere. Around the farmyard, under the apple trees and all
the way home.
From picture-book masters Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas comes this gentle and moving
story about the love between a little boy and the duckling that stays with him all of its
life.
WRITING STYLE
This gorgeous text is a suitable springboard for discussion on the cycles of life and death,
the relationships between humans and animals, and the enduring nature of friendship.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Wild is Australia's leading picture book writer. She was born in Eshowe, a
small town in South Africa. Margaret has written over twenty books, many of which have
appeared in foreign editions. All have been highly acclaimed. Jenny Angel (which was
inspired by her brother's death at the age of seven), illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, Fox,
illustrated by Ron Brooks and The Very Best of Friends, illustrated by Julie Vivas are all
winners of the CBC Picture Book of the Year Award. Her most recent picture book with
Penguin is Leo the Littlest Seahorse.
She now lives in Sydney.
The superb watercolour illustrations of Julie Vivas are loved by children and adults in
Australia and overseas. Perhaps best known for the best selling Possum Magic, written by
Mem Fox, Julie has illustrated stories by many well-known Australian authors, including
The Tram to Bondi Beach by Libby Hathorn and Stories From Our Street by Richard
Tulloch. Her work has received numerous awards and commendations, and in 1992 Julie
was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her significant contribution to the appreciation and
development of children's literature.
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
This is a story about the comfort of love and the things that stay with us all our lives. It
was a rare privilege to watch these two talented individuals create such a meaningful
book for very small children - one that will open their eyes to the real nature of
friendship.
STUDY NOTES/ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS
Page 1-2
 What sort of boy does Davy appear to be?
 What gives you the impression that he is gentle and caring?
 Where was the duck’s nest?
 Look at the colour of the eggshells. What is unusual about them? Are all duck
eggs blue?
 What colour are chicken eggs?
 Do any other birds have coloured eggs?
 What do you think might happen when the baby duck sees Davy?
 Do you think Davy is a threat to the duckling? Why?
Page 3-4
 Where does Davy live?
 Why might it be a surprise that the duck follows Davy around rather than
attaching itself to one of the animals?
 How do you think Davy’s parents will react when the duck follows him home?
 What makes you think this?
Page 5-6
 Why does the duckling think that Davy is its mother?
 What is meant by the word ‘imprinting’?
 What would have happened if the first animal the duckling had seen had been a
pig?
 What will Davy have to do to be a good mother to the duckling?
 Do you think Davy can be a good mother for the duckling?
 How are the duckling and Davy shown to be mirroring each other’s behaviour?
Page 7-8
 How does Davy look after the duckling?
 Do you think the duckling is happy and healthy?
Page 9-10
 Are you surprised that the duckling is still with Davy even when he is a teenager?
 What does that tell us about Davy?
 What does it reveal about their relationship?
 How do Davy’s friends react to the duck?
Page 11-18
 How do Davy and the duck support each other?
 What does it reveal that the duck is with Davy at all the most important moments
in his life?
 Who would you expect to see at all these important events?
 What does this reveal about their relationship?
 In what way has Davy continued to be like a mother to the duckling?
 Draw a picture of something else Davy and the duck might do together.
Page 19-20
 How would Davy feel when the duck starts to get old?
 How does he care for it?
Page 21-22
 Why does the duck start to feel brighter and grow some new feathers when Davy
tells it about the baby?
 How is the duck different from before?
Page 23-24
 What do you think will happen when Molly and the duck look into each other’s
eyes?
Page 25-26
 Why does the duck think it is Molly’s mother?
 How does Davy feel about this?
 How do you think Molly feels about this?
Page 27-30
 What sort of relationship do Molly and the duck have?
 How is it similar to the relationship Davy had with the duck?
 How can the cycle be seen to be repeating itself?
 How can Molly be seen to be like her father?
 What does this tell us about nature?
ILLUSTRATIONS:

What is the mood or feeling in this book?


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How do the illustrations help to create a sense of calm and peace?
Choose your favourite page and explain what it is you like about it.
How do the illustrations help to establish the relationship between Davy and the
duckling?
FOR DISCUSSION:

Did Davy do the right thing by bringing the duckling back to the farm?

Does the duckling suffer by having Davy rather than a duck as its mother?

What role does a mother play?

Does Davy manage to fill this role?

Are people and animals really very different from each other?