Why Ducks Sleep on One Leg

Title: Why Ducks Sleep on One Leg
Author: Sherry Garland
Illustrators: Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng
Genre: Traditional Literature
Award: N/A
Grade Level: 1-3

Long ago, in feudal Vietnam, there were three ducks that only had one leg each. They had a hard time surviving among the other animals and were unhappy with their situation. They decided to write a petition and go on a mission to get another leg. They eventually met with the village guardian spirit who gave them the extra golden legs of his incense burner. With their new golden legs, the ducks were now able to live comfortably. Heeding the spirit's warning to protect their new legs or it may be stolen, the ducks would hide their golden leg under their wing every night. Over time, other ducks saw them sleeping on one leg and started to copy them, to which the custom still remains today.

Because this is a Vietnamese pourquoi folktale, it would help students comprehend more by explaining the Vietnamese culture and words before reading. I would use this book as an example of a different culture's traditional literature. With its bold watercolor illustrations, it would be appealing to 1st-3rd graders. Students could write their own pourquoi stories or go on a journey to find their "missing leg".

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