MENTOR TEXT MONDAY: Duck, Duck, Goose!
- rateyourstoryweb
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Many of you will recognize this chant from a popular children's game, but few will likely know of its Swedish roots. This game originated in Sweden as "Anka, Anka, Grå Anka," which translates to "Duck, Duck, Gray Duck". "Anka, Anka, Gås," meaning "Duck, Duck, Goose," a variation of the game, also exists in Sweden. "Duck, Duck, Gray Duck" is
popular in Minnesota, where many Swedes have immigrated.
The phrase "Duck, Duck, Goose," is well-known by children of the preschool age the world over and makes a fun story seed that several authors have cultivated.
I recently provided this phrase as a challenge for Rate Your Story Members. Most of us naturally gravitated to Duck, Duck, Moose. This can likely mean one of two things. It's already been done, or it's not your best idea. If it's been done but you've discovered a fresh and way to do your iteration, then do it! So, as always recommended, come up with 25 title / idea options (push yourself) and pick the best one! This post is more about a title that portrays a unique idea, but I'm sure you get what I am saying.
Here's a few picture books that capitalized on this children's chant.
As you can see there are several variations, just based upon the name alone! It's so interesting to see what other authors come up with! I personally really liked Duck Duck
Dinosaur and Duck Duck Taco Truck as stand out ideas!
Duck, Duck, Goose by John Hare (Greenwillow Books, Harper Collins, 2024) expands on the chant. Duck. Duck. Duck. Duck. Duck. Duck . . . goose! Duck. Duck, Goose. Moose? From there, things take off with a moose on the loose and lots of fun puns and and words that rhyme with Goose and Duck. A follow-up book to the previous one, for slightly older little ones.
Duck Duck Moose by Dave Horowitz (GP Putnam's Sons, 2009) features the most storytelling of the books that I read, and a fun road trip from New Hampshire to Florida featuring two funny ducks and a moose. It's a friendship story about not leaving a friend behind. Stands out among the bunch, as it adds something more.
Duck Duck Moose by Mary Sullivan (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021) follows a little girl, two ducks and a moose, as they look for goose. Incorporates onomatopoeia and rhyme. Very active, always moving forward, but a lot of noise and talking heads.
Duck, Duck, Moose by Sudipta Bardhan Quallen (Disney / Hyperion, 2014 with art by Noah Z. Jones), is a simple picture book which chants Duck, Duck, Duck, Duck, Duck, Duck and after two spreads, we see not a Goose, but a Moose! As the game continues, Moose pops up from time to time, causing chaos. Very little ones will love chanting along and will enjoy the satisfying ending with a twist.
While I've only showcased a few of the ideas, be sure to pick up the others and give them a read. There's always something to learn! And if you like them, do review them on Amazon and/or Goodreads or wherever you can!
Feel free to comment if you can up with a fun story idea from this Mentor Text exploration! Or let me know what Mentor Texts you want us to explore!
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It’s so fun to read all the different ideas from the basic game. Thanks for the article!
Great collection of spin offs from the game. Thanks.
So interesting to have so many similar titles, and yet each book is different. Thanks for this great look at Duck, Duck, Goose stories.
Fun article! Thanks for sharing the various books. I like Duck, Duck, Taco Truck too. :)