Duck Days
Age range 7 to 10
The third title in the collection that began with USBBY Outstanding International Book Slug Days. Lauren, a third-grade student who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, takes on the challenges of sharing her best friend and persevering when a classmate mocks her bicycle's training wheels.
Irma is Lauren's best friend. Irma knows all the strategies Lauren uses when her Autism Spectrum Disorder makes it hard to 'go with the flow'. Lauren helps Irma learn English words and understand unfamiliar customs. So why does Irma suddenly want to introduce Lauren to her mountain-biking, litter-dropping neighbour Jonas? Why is Irma calling Jonas her friend?
As if sharing Irma weren't bad enough, Lauren also has an alarming new problem at school. Their teacher has announced a mountain biking day when the students will learn to ride their bikes on an obstacle course. But Lauren still uses training wheels. She just can't face the teasing she will get when her classmates see them. She isn't brave like Irma. She can't go with the flow like Dad. How can she possibly face this challenge?
Sara Leach is an elementary school teacher-librarian who hails from Whistler, BC, where she loves to ski, hike and bike. She has had the privilege of teaching several amazing students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and her experience working with them inspired her chapter books Slug Days, Penguin Days, and Duck DaysThe Slug Days Stories collection’s honours include two USBBY Outstanding International Books, a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street Best Book, and four nominations to reader’s choice awards.
Rebecca Bender is a well-loved author-illustrator of children’s books as well as an art director and designer. Her books include the popular Giraffe and Bird collection, How Do You Feel? and the illustrations for Peach Girl by Raymond Namakura, as well as those for the Slug Days Stories and Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life. Rebecca's awards and honors include the OLA Blue Spruce Award, a Cooperative Children’s Book Center best-of-the-year choice, and a Toronto Public Library best-of-the-year selection. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design at the top of her class, earning the Medal for Illustration. Rebecca lives in Burlington, Ontario, with her husband and three children.