John Phillip Duck

John Phillip Duck

By Patricia Polacco

Scholastic Inc., 2004

John Phillip Duck is an adorable story of a boy named Edward to gets a pet duck. He trains him to “dance” to the John Phillip Sousa March. He comes to live with Edward and his family at the hotel where Edward’s father works. Many hotel members become fond of him, and help to hide him from Mr. Schutt, the hotel manager. When Mr. Schutt finds out about the duck, he gives Edward one month to train other ducks to march like John Phillip Duck. If they succeed, they can stay in the fountain at the hotel. And of course, they do!

I thought this was such a cute story, and a great one to read aloud to children. It would be a fun fiction read aloud to incorporate during a study on birds or animals when the text is mostly informational. It is a rather long picture book, so it might be good to break up over a few days if you want to read it aloud.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, and almost make the ducks look like they are smiling!