Duck lives next door to Bear. Duck is friendly and enthusiastic. Bear is a loner who prefers to be left alone. Duck is not deterred. He wants to spend time (lots of time) with Bear. The sun is shining it's "a glorious morning full of possibility." Duck knocks on Bears door. There is no answer. Then he sees a sign - gone fishing!
"Bear's gone fishing?
He's back next week?
BEAR'S GONE FISHING?
HE'S BACK NEXT WEEK?
He's gone fishing?
Without me?
But ...
but ...
FISHING?
What am I going to do with myself until then?"
Meanwhile Bear has set off with his tent, teddy bear and map. He is happy to have some time alone.
Duck tries to entertain himself - reading, cooking, writing letters, drumming and watching a movie but he soon becomes bored. He decides to set off to find bear.
Meanwhile Bear is not going too well. He cannot work out how to put up his tent, he forgot to pack snacks, it has started to rain and he cannot light his camp fire.
Duck arrives just in time:
"Bear it's me! Duck! From next door. I found you, ol' buddy, ol' chum."
I love the emotional aspects of this story. Bear really does need a friend and Duck is such a happy soul but he is a little too enthusiastic. Bear needs Duck, but only in small doses. Like all relationships theirs is a complex one.
Read this review. Here are details of the four books along with some work sheets. I would follow this series with the book series by Bonny Becker about Mouse and Bear along with the books you can see below. Take a look at this trailer. If you want to explore another funny book about camping trips that go wrong take a look at Herman's Holiday.
Something to think about - so many of these odd couple relationships involve bears. Rabbit and Bear, Mouse and Bear, Bird (Honey) and Bear, Chook and Bear, Racoon and Bear (Herman) and now Duck and Bear. This might be a fun mini theme to explore with a class.
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