Pistes d'exploration

Discuss what makes the story funny. Discuss the meaning of irony.

Talk about the concept of inference. What can you infer from the illustrations and how does that help you comprehend the story?

With a partner, make a list of other ironic situations.

Talk about fears you have and the things you do to alleviate your fear. Are your fears based in reality or not? Explain. Role play a situation giving it a less fearful twist.

Before reading, talk about fables and what you know about them.

Discuss the story and why it is funny. What is the surprise ending? Do you worry about things that might happen to you? Explain.

Make a class list of what if  scenarios. Stretch the what-if to its maximum. Give reasons to prove they will not come true.

Explain the moral of the story.

Little Chicken Duck

Mots-clés

Humour , Picture book , fear , frogs , prejudice , taking risks

Commentaire descriptif

Two frogs sit on a lily pad in the middle of a large quiet pond. One of them is a worrier, and holds a stick to fend off a potential predator, a dog. The second and more relaxed frog sees this is much ado about nothing, since there is no dog in sight, nor is there likely to be. “But what if a dog should come swimming across the pond and try to eat us up? Better safe than sorry,” argues the friend. So begins this humorous fable about a hapless pair of anthropomorphic (but very realistic-looking) frogs embroiled in a debate that sees them narrowly escaping a toothy-jawed pike, a hungry heron and, ironically, a “champion javelin thrower who came to the pond that morning with his dog.” Within the sparse text are numerous opportunities for children to speculate: “What if he hadn't laughed at his friend? What if they didn't go stick-collecting? What if . . .?” Large marine-hued watercolour illustrations (featuring the expressive faces of the frogs) along with witty dialogue and a final surprise twist produce an engaging read-aloud that children will beg to hear again and again.