Quacky, Smacky & Tacky
“An entertaining read and a must for anyone who cares about wildlife, nature and the environment.” — Colleen Needles Steward, CEO of Tremendous! Productions
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There’s a lot to like about the picture book Quacky, Smacky & Tacky (Browne+Browne). It’s a delightful children’s story geared for preschoolers to sixth-graders based on true events experienced by its teenage author, John Browne.
In this simple story that shows children the fun, excitement and occasional peril in caring for animals, readers learn about responsibility and accountability and how their little feathered friends come to depend on them. The book is also a great source of education, providing a number of interesting facts about mallard ducks and migratory birds.
The tale is narrated by Molly, a Canadian goose and self-appointed guardian for the ducklings. As part of a biology project, three mallard eggs are given to Miss Prichard’s school class, and John is chosen to take them home and care for them. John is described as having “a curious mind and is popular in school. John is also creative and interested in the sciences and would like to be a biologist. He also is a loving and caring young boy.”
The book is also a great source of education for its readers, providing ways to care for and raise wild animals, in this case, three mallard ducks, until they are able to fly off on their own and join a migration. The book also provides a number of interesting facts about mallard ducks and migratory birds.
John is the perfect caretaker. He reads up on everything he has to know, provides a secure pen for them (first inside and then outside), gets them the proper food of bugs and worms, and even looks for edible alternatives when one of the ducklings, Smacky, doesn’t seem interested.
When he takes them outside, they face threats not only from occasional inclement weather but also from intruders like hawks, raccoons and foxes. When a fox injures Quacky, John rushes him to the vet who tends to the matter.
Perhaps the most touching and heartwarming part of the story is when John and his three friends see a flock of ducks flying overhead every day, and the boy realizes it’s time to let go and allow Quacky, Smacky and Tacky to fly off and join them.
“John said with tears in his eyes, ‘I love all three of you and I know I will miss you forever, but you have to fly away and join all the other wild mallard ducks.’”
Readers can feel John’s pain but rejoice in knowing he has done the right thing.
All the characters are portrayed in a cartoon style, with marvelous illustrations by Alan Tollefson. The author points out that he looks similar to the drawings of him in the book. “On the outside, he is fair-skinned with blonde hair; on the inside, he is a warm, very conscientious young boy.”
The author takes great pains to introduce each of the characters in the beginning of the book, giving readers some helpful orientation of what’s to come. Browne also describes the very specific personality traits of the three ducks — Quacky being sociable and calm, Smacky lady-like and proper, and Tacky full of mischief.
Between the simple, sweet story, the fascinating information about ducks and their migration patterns, and the subtle lessons that help children develop empathy, curiosity, self-confidence and responsibility, Quacky, Smacky & Tacky is more than a book with a funny title. It is a chance for children to laugh, learn, relate and experience a range of emotions that will serve them well as they prepare someday to let go and fly off in their own right to discover the wide world around them.
Quacky, Smacky & Tacky can be ordered here or by calling 800-901-3480.
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