Edith and the Duckling

Edith #10

by Dare Wright

Text and photographs show how Edith the doll and her teddy bear companions care for a duckling after its mother disappears.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

55 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last of the Edith and The Bears series, you can tell Dare Wright reached the end of the road when the name in the title changed from The Lonely Doll to Edith. Also, the tone in this book is less playful and funny and much more somber with images of Edith bundled up in clothing more than ever and the landscape looking more wintry and dark than usual.

The duckling in the story is also highly symbolic of Wright's approach to the series: starting as a hatching being nursed by Edith and Little Bear, by the final pages of the book Edith is told by Mr. Bear the duck is too old to be kept and has to be set free, with Edith sadly musing, "Goodbye, our duck. See you in the spring. Why is spring so far away?" :(

[Jessie Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart ❤️

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Edith and Little Bear stumble upon an abandoned nest, they decide they will take the eggs under their wing and raise the ducklings as their own. When the first egg hatches, it becomes a duckling with two mothers. When they try to determine its gender, Mr. Bear describes the girl duck as brown and beige to keep her safe, while the boy duck is bright and very grand because “it’s not so important that he’s protected.” In order to keep it from floating away, they drag a pan to the pond, tie a string to the handle, and set pan and duck afloat. This affords the duckling the notion of freedom without the reality–reminiscent of the codependent relationship Edith’s mother cultivated with her daughter. “I didn’t think he’d leave us. We’re his mother…I don’t want him to fly away…You’ve raised a fine duck. Can’t you be happy to let him go where he belongs?” Unfortunately, her mother’s real life response was to keep Edith tethered to her in the proverbial pan on the water, in a semblance of freedom rather than truly setting her free to marry and have a family of her own or live independently. The pictures can be perceived as stiff and contrived with the exception of the engaging ducking, a bittersweet biography.

[Wolfgang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book!

[Madame Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a slower tale about Edith.

[Tobinsfavorite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one I had growing up. Edith is a lovely little doll, just a perfect representation of an inquisitive little girl. Mr Bear and Little Bear are apt companions, and the photography is a sight to behold.