Author(s): Caroline Zagel; Salvador Capuyan (Illustrator)

Issues

When Little Duck accidentally falls into a fast flowing river, he is very afraid and fights against the current to try to get back on dry land. He soon finds, however, that the river is stronger than he is. Despite this, he continues fighting until he realizes he should save his energy for times when the river current isn't so strong. Little Duck makes the decision to relax but not give up. He no longer panics over something he can't control, instead flowing with the river and waiting patiently for the opportunity to return to safety. Little Duck Went Down the River might be fiction, but the challenges Little Duck faces are not. His conflict shines a light on learning to "go with the flow" with the things in our life we can't control and focus our energy and strengths on the things we can. This is Caroline Zagel's first book in a series of many to come, taking a proactive approach to mental health by providing tools and skills that young readers can apply to their own lives.