Title: Molly the Mallard Duck
Subtitle: The true story of Kathy and the mallard duck she named Molly
Author: Karen J. Tapp
Illustrator: Karen A. Welch
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4669-8524-7
Pages: 32
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Hollywood Book Reviews
At times it is said, “truth is stranger than fiction,” yet in author Karen J. Tapp’s illustrated book Molly the Mallard Duck, I can honestly say, “truth is more kind and loving than fiction.” Why? Because in this story, it tells of a Mallard duck giving birth to four ducklings, and how this kind and loving lady, Kathy, summoned the fire department and police force of her small town to come to the rescue of the ducklings when they accidently fell into a sewer drain.
The author sets up the story with introducing the readers to the key players, and mostly talks about this Mallard duck who gave birth to her ducklings in a bush, under a street lamp, on the home-owner’s property. Kathy, the homeowner, wanted to protect Molly, the duck, and her babies from predators, so she put a small fence around the nest. As it turned out, this was not a good idea. You see, although it prevented cats and other predators from entering the nest, it also kept Molly blocked from scavenging for food and visiting her mate by the pond. So, the fence was taken down.
The story goes on as the adventure of Molly walking with her ducklings following her, she crosses a sewer drain cover in the street. Molly’s feet were large enough for her to traverse the metal grate, but the little ducklings, one-by-one, fell through the holes and into the storm drain. Kathy was in shock – what should she do? How was she going to save the little babies from drowning? So, even though it was nighttime, she called the town’s emergency services, and both the police and fire department showed up. Eventually, the hero of the story is the fireman who goes into the storm drain, reaches into a pipe and rescues the last of the four ducklings. Everything turns out to be a happy-ever ending. There is a comical scene when Karen brings one of the little ducklings into her bed for the night, and her husband awakes to this surprise by his pillow.
The next year, Molly (or is it a grown duckling) again returns to the bush to have another birth of more ducklings. What a lovely way to set the scene for children, being read this story at bedtime, to drift off into dreamland thinking of these tiny yellow ducklings growing up into brownish mallard ducks, and having babies following the paths of their parents.
It needs to be mentioned the drawings are ideally suited to the storyline, offering a visual storyboard for kids to follow as the words tell of the sequence of events. Molly the Mallard Duck: The true story of Kathy and the mallard duck she named Molly, by author Karen J. Tapp is a wonderful addition to all family libraries, and a story which will linger in the minds of all readers -long after the book is finished.