John Philip Duck

Name: John Philip Duck
Author: Patricia Polacco

A story that explores friendship and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

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♥ This book teaches: Friendship. showing up for someone else.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: A friendship occurs when two or more people are able to experience respect, trust, and kindness in their relationship. In short: Build bonds that last forever. Summary: Teacher’s note: the narrator introduces this story to kindergartners, but it is appropriate for 5-10 year olds. The friendships in this true story begin with a big dreamer named Edward and his pet duck, John Phillip Duck, named after a famous composer and musician, John Phillip Sousa. When Edward’s family plays marching music at home, he dreams of wearing a classy uniform and marching in a band, but that seems an impossible future for a boy from a poor family. Even though he’s just a lad, Edward and his dad both have jobs at the Peabody Hotel. The boy brings the duck with him to work but it’s kept hidden for fear he’d become someone’s dinner. Edward enlists the help of some new friends, his fellow hotel workers - they collaborate to help Edward protect his pet. When Edward carries out a plan to save his duck, he successfully wins the enthusiastic support and friendship of Mr. Shutt, the hotel owner. The clever boy trains a flock of ducks, including his pet, to march to John Phillip Sousa’s marches. They perform at the hotel and Mr. Shutt is so pleased with Edward, he presents him with a beautiful uniform and a title - “Official Duckmaster of the Peabody Hotel.” Edward continues to train ducks as entertainers at the hotel for 50 years! Lesson Objectives:

This story is about how dreams can come true with ingenuity and the help of friends. Students will value the support of friends and will invest more in these important relationships.
This lesson can be linked to studies about marching band music.

Guiding Questions:

What did Edward dream of doing some day?
Who helped him protect the duck at the hotel?
Why did Edward name his duck John Phillip Duck?
What happened that helped Edward impress Mr. Shutt and win his friendship and support?
How did Mr. Shutt reward Edward?
After he retired from his job entertaining at the hotel, what did Edward hope to see? Did that dream come true?
Share about a parade or marching band you’re seen. If you haven’t ever seen one, watch one on the internet. What performances were in the parade?
Do you wish you could go back in time, see the ducks perform and meet the Official Duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel?
Have you ever seen animals perform at a circus? If so, what did you see?
Ask your parents and grandparents to share about friends they had when they were children. Are they still friends?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Friendship means showing up for someone else, consistently.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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Friendship · Family Discussion Guide

John Philip Duck

by Patricia Polacco

Guiding Questions

This story is about how dreams can come true with ingenuity and the help of friends. Students will value the support of friends and will invest more in these important relationships.
This lesson can be linked to studies about marching band music.

Guiding Questions:

What did Edward dream of doing some day?
Who helped him protect the duck at the hotel?
Why did Edward name his duck John Phillip Duck?
What happened that helped Edward impress Mr. Shutt and win his friendship and support?
How did Mr. Shutt reward Edward?
After he retired from his job entertaining at the hotel, what did Edward hope to see? Did that dream come true?
Share about a parade or marching band you’re seen. If you haven’t ever seen one, watch one on the internet. What performances were in the parade?
Do you wish you could go back in time, see the ducks perform and meet the Official Duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel?
Have you ever seen animals perform at a circus? If so, what did you see?
Ask your parents and grandparents to share about friends they had when they were children. Are they still friends?

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John Philip Duck

Guiding Questions for Parents.

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Guiding Questions