A Duck is a Duck is a Duck–The Duck Test

“A Duck is a Duck is a Duck–The Duck Test” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

Today’s post is all about word play.  I am focusing on ducks. 

No, it’s not Duck Day. 

It is a special day for a friend of mine who loves ducks.  For that reason, I’m sending her a few links about ducks that I think she will enjoy reading and/or listening to. I certainly hope you will also.

Expressions About Ducks.  Do you know these?

• “A Duck is a Duck is a Duck.”  It is sometimes called “The Duck Test.” Here is a link to explain it better than I can. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_test
• “I’m feeling ducky.”  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ducky
• “Sitting duck”  http://www.englishdaily626.com/slang.php?124
• “Dead duck”  http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/dead+duck

Songs/Videos:

• If you are fond of Sesame Street, enjoy singing along to “Rubber Duckie”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf9d7rSf_Ks
• One I wasn’t familiar with but hope you’ll enjoy like I did is “The Duck Song.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtN1YnoL46Q

Childhood Games:

• A childhood game we can’t leave out–“Duck, Duck, Goose.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck,_duck,_goose

Celebrity Ducks:

• Donald Duck  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Duck
• Daffy Duck  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Lf7yNhdtk
• $crooge McDuck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBRrCY5uhWY
• Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jPHD-onTBU

Celebration Featuring a Duck:

•  Check out the 36th annual Sydney Festival in Australia.  A 50 foot high duck floated into Darling Harbour.  See here:  http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/all-out-for-a-duck-20130105-2ca00.html

Charity Event with Ducks:

• Fayetteville, NC Duck Derby.  Money is raised for local charities by holding a rubber duck race down the Cape Fear River.  http://www.fayettevilleduckderby.com/Fayetteville_Duck_Derby_Home.html

Entertainment:

• Ride the Ducks of Seattle http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/

Location, Location, Location: 

• Duck, NC http://www.townofduck.com/

Search Engine:

• Duck Duck Go  http://help.duckduckgo.com/customer/portal/articles/300304

Books About Ducks:

• Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey  http://www.amazon.com/Make-Way-for-Ducklings/dp/B007ZYCQ9C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357425076&sr=8-3&keywords=make+way+for+ducklings

• And because my friend, Joan Y. Edwards, is celebrating a birthday and she has a published book about a little duck, I’m also featuring  Flip Flap Floodle here.

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Flap-Floodle-Joan-Edwards/dp/1594572852/

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/flip-flap-floodle?r=1

Happy birthday Joan!

May you always carry Flip Flap Floodle’s song in your heart.  I hope you’re feeling ducky, birthday girl!

Love,

Linda

To help us all remember Flip’s song, here’s Joan to sing it for us.  http://www.joanyedwards.com/FlipFlapFloodle.htm  Just beware–if you sing it, it becomes a part of you. 

Please join me in wishing Joan Edwards a Happy Birthday!

*Quacking noises echo off the walls, ceilings, and floors and travel all the way to her home.*

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen