The Can Do Duck (New Edition): A Story About Believing In Yourself

by Ducktor Morty Sosland, Esther Deblinger, Sarah Sosland (Illustrator)

Overview

In this timeless, inspirational tale, readers – human and duck – learn that they can do what they put their minds to! The author, “Ducktor” Morty Sosland, M.D., is a child psychiatrist who strives to use the Can Do philosophy in whatever he does. The book, which was a family project, was originally illustrated by Ducktor Morty’s 6 and 8-year-old daughters, Sarah and Arielle, with a little help from his wife, Esther Deblinger, Ph.D., an internationally known child psychologist, who wrote the parent and teacher guidelines for the book.
Years later, with amazing Can Do dedication, Arielle Sosland adapted the book and created, produced and directed Can Do Duck: The Musical to rave reviews, including one in The New York Times! And now this new edition has beautiful color illustrations created by the author’s other Can Do daughter, Sarah Sosland. In this new edition, the author does not refer to Can Do as a male or female duck so it’s easier for boys and girls to relate to Can Do and become Can Do Ducks themselves.
Readers have compared The Can Do Duck to The Little Engine That Could and to books written by Dr. Seuss! But the truth is that The Can Do Duck stands on its own just as its main character, Can Do, learns to walk, swim and fly on its own! It is a story of a duck that learns to overcome its fears and learns a process by which to achieve new goals. The story is meant to entertain and teach at the same time. The story stresses the importance of positive self-talk and Can Do learns to say, "I say, I can. I make a plan. I get right to it. And then I do it!" And Mama Duck teaches by example and also conveys the importance of unconditional love, expressing perhaps the most important message children need to hear and feel, “I love you for being you. Not because of what you do.”

The Can Do Duck is an award winning book, earning a Gold Medal from Mom's Choice Awards and it was a Finalist in the American Book Fest Best Book Awards. It also received an excellent Kirkus Review. This book has been read by thousands of readers all over the world and has inspired teachers and principals, entire schools, athletic teams, cheerleaders, a literacy program, a Miss Tennessee pageant contestant, reading clubs, business people, children, college graduates, and many more. One high school graduate who read The Can Do Duck as a child wrote the Can Do Duck slogan on her graduation cap and she is now in medical school. And now this story will inspire you as it has inspired so many others. Always remember that you can do it like Can Do!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780976838449
Publisher:	Morton D Sosland
Publication date:	05/01/2019
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	3 - 12 Years

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a gem! It is heart warming, affirming, and child centered. If this were a perfect world, every parent and teacher would have this book and sit down with a child and see the magic and growth that would come from it." - Teacher for 24 years.

“We are happy to award deserving children's books like The Can Do Duck: A Story About Believing In Yourself. Our panel of judges really felt this book merited a place on our list of the best in family-friendly products that parents and educators can feel confident in using.” - Dawn Matheson, CEO, Mom’s Choice Awards.

"The Can Do Duck books are really terrific - motivational, sweet, and amusing. There's a lot of power and inspiration in the simple poetry." - Jeffrey Zazlow, co-author of The Last Lecture

"Positive advice for helping kids set and meet personal goals. A duckling is afraid to try new things but learns how to make plans in this children’s picture book. A newly hatched duck, Little One, lacks the courage to attempt things it's never done, including walking and swimming. Its mother points out advantages of learning new skills, and teaches Little One a simple method: “First say, I can. / Then make a plan. / Get right to it. / And then you’ll do it!” Every time, Little One discovers that when it envisions success and imagines fun, it’s easy to learn to walk, swim, and fly—even if it takes a few tries. Little One goes on to attempt horseback riding and ice skating, as well as new languages, and earns a new name: “Can Do.” The text is by child psychiatrist Morty Sosland (Can Do and Friends to the Rescue, 2013, etc.); Esther Deblinger (Trauma-Focused CBT for Children and Adolescents, 2019, etc.), his wife, is a clinical psychologist who contributes teacher and parent guidelines for using the book. Many kids need help tackling new challenges, and the book provides helpful modeling of a process for planning, visualizing, and achieving success in kid-friendly language. The appealing illustrations by Sarah Sosland have cartoony charm, nicely capturing Can Do’s activities and expressions, as when the duck is determined to learn to fly." - Kirkus Reviews

"A success story! Our 7-year-old daughter was learning to dive. She couldn't do it at first and went home feeling defeated. After reading The Can Do Duck, we returned to the swimming pool. Together, we chanted the words, "I say, I can. I make a plan. I get right to it. And then I do it!" and she dived right in. Anyone young or old who wants to achieve anything big or small should read this book!" - Karen Meskin, Mom, and Steve Meskin, M.D., Dad and Family Doctor.

"We had posters in every classroom with the Can Do Duck pledge. Every class set goals and every child could earn a duck. Ducks were visible throughout the school. By the end of the year each child earned their own duck." - Carol Barineau, Elementary School Principal

"They were really into it and listening while I read it. I only wish I would have kicked my season off with this instead of in the last week. I have coached volleyball for many years and the one thing that I think the book really could help with is that volleyball is a game of errors and you have to believe in yourself regardless of the outcome of each point! I will be reading this book very frequently to my own children.They are 12, 10 and 3. It will help make them successful in all they choose to do." - Coach Tammy Cox, High School volleyball coach.

From the Publisher

2019-12-17
A duckling is afraid to try new things but learns how to make plans in this children’s picture book.

Little One, a newly hatched duck, lacks the courage to attempt things it's never done, including walking and swimming. Its mother points out advantages of learning new skills, and teaches Little One a simple method: “First say, I can. / Then make a plan. / Get right to it. / And then you’ll do it!” Every time, Little One discovers that when it envisions success and imagines fun, it’s easy to learn to walk, swim, and fly—even if it takes a few tries. Little One goes on to attempt horseback riding and ice skating as well as new languages and earns a new name: “Can Do.” The text is by child psychiatrist Morty Sosland (Can Do and Friends to the Rescue, 2013, etc.); Esther Deblinger (Trauma-Focused CBT for Children and Adolescents, 2019, etc.), his wife, is a clinical psychologist who contributes teacher and parent guidelines for using the book. Many kids need help tackling new challenges, and the book provides helpful modeling of a process for planning, visualizing, and achieving success in kid-friendly language. The appealing illustrations by Sarah Sosland have cartoony charm, nicely capturing Can Do’s activities and expressions, as when the duck is determined to learn to fly.

Positive advice for helping kids set and meet personal goals.

Kirkus Reviews