A heron chick wants to stand on one leg
Just like the grown-up herons do.
But every time she tries –
SPLASH!
Standing on one leg is hard!
Category: Picture Book
A story about a little chick learning to do a big thing! The heron chick sees her mum and all the big herons standing gracefully on one leg, but she just CAN’T do it! Maybe she just needs a little help? She tries to get her balance by leaning on a variety of things you’d find in the canal: a rock, another chick, and otter a swan – even a shoe someone has dumped! But she KEEPS overbalancing. Then she works it out. She can’t do it with people looking. Not even the reader. If they reader closes their eyes, she just might do it! Do you think she did it?
A fun interactive book for small children, who will identify with the need to try and try again. They will also enjoy the fun of closing their eyes and wondering if the chick is succeeding while they can’t see her!
Erika McGann grew up in Drogheda, County Louth, and now lives in Dublin. She is the author of The Demon Notebook, winner of the Waverton Good Read Children’s Award, The Broken Spell, The Watching Wood and The Midnight Carnival, the ‘Cass and the Bubble Street Gang’ series, and four picture books, Where Are You, Puffling?, Puffling and the Egg (which was nominated for an Irish Book Award) and Wee Donkey’s Treasure Hunt, all illustrated by Gerry Daly, and The Night-time Cat and the Plump, Grey Mouse, illustrated by Lauren O’Neill. Erika’s most recent book is Tabitha Plimtock and the Edge of the World.
guaranteed to provide fun for all
I read this story with my Junior Infant class and also my 5 year old son at home. The children were engaged in the story straight away as they liked the pictures ... There was a chance for children to participate in the reading of the book by repeating the splash splish words. They also liked the rhyming parts … The children also seemed to engage well in the part where they are asked to close their eyes. I like the idea of this as it helps children to take more notice of a story book if there is a part for them to play. After I read the story I asked the children some questions and I was happy that the majority of the class seemed to get the message that you have to keep trying even when things are hard. I think the book is suitable for Infant age and possible even 3 or 4 year olds. It is easy to follow the story and the illustrations are very child friendly. As regards using this book in my classroom, I am happy now to have a copy that I’ll be able to use again. It is a great book to tie in with SESE lessons on birds and a good way to help children remember the name of a bird they are not familiar with. While I was looking through the book at home, what caught my eye was that the illustrator grew up not far from where I am from in County Tyrone so it’s good to support local! By Aoife Mc Nulty, SN Iorball Sionnaigh, Co. Monaghan
