Targeted Age Group:: 4-8
Meet Duck — a clever, resourceful farmer — and his best friends, Hen and Cat. When Duck reads a book about fossils, he invites his friends to come with him on a dinosaur dig. It turns out that digging up the bones is the easy part. Back at the farm, the other animals aren’t too sure they really want a T-Rex skeleton in the barn…
Written for beginning readers, this silly, fast-paced adventure takes unexpected twists and turns. Kim Sponaugle’s delightful illustrations perfectly capture these loveable animals. “Duck and Friends: The Dinosaur Bones” is a tale sure to be enjoyed again and again. Suggested reading level: 1st-2nd grade.
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
My son Andrew was only 2-1/2 years old when he first heard the story of Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik. He promptly invented pretend friends named Duck, Hen and Cat and then delighted my husband and I with stories of their escapades. One day Andrew asked me to tell him a Duck, Hen and Cat story. I made up something silly and he giggled. So he kept asking. And I like his giggle. Whenever I tell a story, Andrew adds (or changes) details and shapes the story to his liking. To encourage Andrew when he was learning to read, I started writing out some of our stories and that is how the “Duck and Friends” books began.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
See my answer to “What Inspired You to Write This Book?”
Book Sample
Duck lived on a farm in Pleasant Hill. He had cows, chickens, pigs and alpacas. One day Duck read a book about fossils. “Quack! I want to dig for dinosaur bone fossils,” he said.
Duck used his cell phone to call his friends Hen and Cat. “Hen, I want to dig for bones. Will you help me?”
“Yes!” said Hen.
“Cat,” Duck said, “I want to dig for bones. Will you help me?”
“Yes!” said Cat.
Duck hopped in his truck. He picked up Hen and Cat. They drove to a town called Fossil. In Fossil they could dig for dinosaur bones.
Duck, Hen and Cat used shovels, picks and spades. They dug and dug. Then Duck found something. Duck found something BIG. He shouted, “Dig here!”
Duck, Hen and Cat dug and dug. They dug up lots of bones.
“We need to take the dinosaur bones back to my farm,” said Duck. “But they are too big to fit in my truck.” So Duck called the airport. “Hello! This is Duck! I need something to carry my dinosaur bones.”
The operator said, “Hi, Duck! You can borrow the blimp. It can carry lots of bones.”
“Quack! Thank you,” said Duck.
Duck always wanted to fly a blimp. Hen and Cat always wanted to ride in a blimp. Duck, Hen and Cat put the dinosaur bones in the blimp.
Duck flew the blimp back to the farm. They dropped off the bones. Then they went back to Fossil to return the blimp. Duck drove Hen and Cat home in his truck.
Hen flapped her wings. “Bye, Duck! Thanks for the blimp ride!”
Cat swished his tail. “Bye, Duck! Have fun with the bones!”
Duck beeped the horn. “Bye! Thanks for the help!”
Author Bio:
Author Donna Gielow McFarland developed an early love for literature. She wrote her first book at age ten, and later contributed to her high school and college newspapers while working in book stores and libraries. After earning a degree in piano performance from Wheaton College and a master’s degree in piano pedagogy from the University of Oregon, she taught at New Hope Christian College and currently teaches at Northwest Christian University. She also served as class piano program coordinator at the University of Oregon.
Her books include Follow the Star: Christmas Songs for Piano, The Purple Elephant chapter books, Duck and Friends early readers, Sam and the Dragon: A Medieval Mars Story and several college music textbooks. Donna and her husband live in Oregon and are the proud parents of a talented ten year old son who inspires them daily.
Links to Purchase Print Books
Link to Buy Duck and Friends: The Dinosaur Bones Print Edition at Amazon
Links to Purchase eBooks
This book is available in Kindle Unlimited: yes
Link To Buy Duck and Friends: The Dinosaur Bones On Amazon
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