Lemon the Duck
Written by Laura Backman, Illustrated by Laurence Cleyet-Merle,
Page 1
Richard was the first to hear the soft peeping sounds. Then the rest of the class heard it too. It was coming from the incubator in Ms. Lake's class.
Page 2
For twenty-eight days, the machine had carefully warmed and turned four eggs.
Page 3
Now the children could hear the ducklings peeping inside the eggs, as if to say, "I'm ready to come out!"
The students had been studying oviparous animals - egg layers.
Page 4
The ducklings worked and rested and worked some more until finally, they burst out of the eggs. There lay four ducklings, small and wet, squeaking softly. The children squealed with glee.
Page 5
All day, Ms. Lake's students watched in wonder as the four newborns became dry, frisky, peeping balls of fluff. The children named them Peaches, Lemon, Daisy, and Chip-Chip.
Page 6
It soon became clear that Lemon, named for her soft yellow down that reminded Ms. Lake of her grandmother's lemon meringue pie, was different. She had a tuft of white on her head, but that wasn't the only thing that set her apart. "Ms. Lake, what's wrong with Lemon?" Myra asked. "She doesn't stand like the others. She doesn't stretch out her neck."
Page 7
Ms. Lake called Dr. Bill, the vet.
"Lemon may need a little more time to get her land legs," Dr. Bill said.
Page 8
Over the next few weeks, the ducklings were fed and loved by Ms. Lake's class. Soon, white pinfeathers began to poke out of the ducks' soft down. They were growing up. Little webbed feet slapped against the floor as the ducklings waddled and flapped and followed the children around the room. But Lemon still could not stand or walk. Every time she tried, she tumbled over. Ms. Lake decided to take Lemon to the vet.
Page 9
"What your duck has," Dr. Bill explained, "is a balance problem. Not much can be done for this," he said sadly. "You can help her get stronger, but she'll always need extra special care."
Page 10
When the other three ducks were old enough, they went to live on Mr. Web's farm. Ms. Lake adopted Lemon and brought her to school every day. Ms. Lake and her students did just what the vet ordered - they gave Lemon extra special care.
Page 11
Before school each morning, Ms. Lake placed Lemon in a baby stroller and took her for walks around the neighborhood. As the sky loomed above her, Lemon stretched her neck out to get a better look. She watched the birds flitter from tree to tree, or perch on a wire. When Ms. Lake and Lemon got closer to the river, Lemon would wag her tail feathers at the sight of water.
Page 12
Lemon loved her nightly bath.
She strengthened her muscles while
she swam in the tub. Her waterproof
feathers trapped air like a built-in floatie,
and her bones were hollow and light.
This made her a natural
swimmer.
Page 13
Ms. Lake often took Lemon to see her feathered siblings at the farm. Peaches, Daisy, and Chip-Chip would waddle over to Lemon and quack a friendly greeting. But they would quickly lose interest in Lemon because she couldn't muck around in the grass (like all ducks love to do).
Page 14
At school, the children took turns carrying Lemon in a basket. They fed her by hand and gave her oodles of love. Lemon would bark loudly as they left for lunch, and when they returned, she'd quack excitedly as if to say, "Welcome back!"
Page 15
At recess, Lemon snoozed on the grass as the students surrounded her with treats. Each of the children's bottoms would be in the air as they searched in the grass or under rocks and logs for worms to give Lemon.
Page 16
Nathaniel showed the others how to feed her.
"Hold the worm by Lemon's tail," he'd instruct.
"Ms. Lake says Lemon needs to practice touching
her oil gland so she can get stronger and waterproof
herself. It will keep her dry in the water."
Page 17
One day, during circle time, Richard asked, "Ms. Lake, how can we help Lemon stand up?"
"Maybe we can all think of some ideas," she replied.
Page 18
The next day, Leo brought in balloons from his sister's birthday party. Ms. Lake carefully tied them to each end of a towel and made a sling to hold Lemon up. But Lemon was too heavy, and she popped the balloons with her beak. "How do you get a duck to stand up?" asked Leo.
Page 19
Day after day, the students tried new ideas, but nothing worked.
Page 20
Then one weekend, when Holly was helping her parents clean the garage, she spotted the life vest they had once used for their dog when they went on a boat trip. "Hmm," she thought to herself as she got an idea.
Page 21
On Monday morning, Holly brought the vest into school and
whispered something in Ms. Lake's ear. Ms. Lake then slid
Lemon's legs through the holes of the doggie vest,
zipped it up, and grasped the straps as
she let the duck's feet touch the floor.
Lemon then let out a boisterous
"QUACK!" Everyone stopped what
they were doing to see what the noise
was all about.
"Lemon's standing up!"
yelled Myra.
Page 22
It was true. When the children held the handles of the vest, they could help her stand and walk. When it was time for Lemon to eat, or when she was hanging out at recess or on the rug in the classroom, the vest was attached to a stand so that Lemon could move around on her own.
Page 23
Lemon was one happy duck. She craned her neck to see everything happening around her. She mucked around in the grass (like all ducks love to do). She was able to find her own worms at recess. She threw out her chest and quacked as if to say, "Look at me!"
Page 24
Richard's look of happiness turned to one of worry. "Ms. Lake, does this
mean Lemon will leave us to go
live on Mr. Web's farm?"
Page 25
"She will stay here, and we will love her and keep her healthy and safe," Ms. Lake reassured the students. "Lemon will always need us."
"I think we need her too," Nathaniel said.
Page 26
Just then, Holly ran up to Ms. Lake and whispered another idea.
Page 27
The next day at recess, Richard was the first to hear the chorus of quacking. Then the rest of the class heard it too. Mr. Web had brought Peaches, Daisy, and Chip-Chip to school for a visit! The three ducks waddled over to Lemon, who stood proudly in the sling designed by her friends. There the four ducks stood together, looking for treats, and mucking around in the grass (like all ducks love to do).
Page 28
The students watched, happy to know that now, their extra special friend with extra special needs could be part of both flocks, and they wouldn't have to say goodbye.
