There are many good children’s books out there. In my former days as a teacher, I came across hundreds and hundreds of them and many more have hit the market since then. But every once in a while, a really special one comes along. Dabbling Doezee by Kimberly Kennedy is definitely in that category.
Dabbling Doezee is a picture book intended for ages 3-8 and I can certainly see it resonating with that age group but I think it’s such a lovely read that I would be inclined to give it as a baby shower gift and hope that new parents would start reading it right from birth (or before)!
It’s a sweet story of two friends, Doezee and Rudy. They are both ducks but Doezee is a mallard. That means she is a dabbler and when she feeds, her head dips under the water. You’ve seen them before with their tails appearing to bob on top of the water. Rudy, on the other hand, is a ruddy. These ducks are divers, taking their whole bodies underwater to find their food.
At first, Doezee thinks her unique qualities aren’t as good as Rudy’s and place her in more danger from predators. But as the story progresses, each of the friends learns about what makes them special, what gifts they possess, and how their friendship can bring them together to balance each other’s qualities and keep them safe.
To complement the delightful story are some equally charming illustrations by Tracy Herrmann. Colorful and lively, they are sure to capture the attention of every child. This is the ideal read aloud book. I can picture reading this in my former Kindergarten classroom and having each and every student cheering Doezee and Rudy on through their adventures. Of course, I also imagine it would become one of those books that my students requested to read over and over again.
Whether as a classroom read aloud or a bedtime story, this is sure to be a treasured children’s story. i give it a wholehearted 5 out of 5 quacks! (Oh and I’ve got fingers crossed for some sequels!)
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