Ducks, picture books, spelling words

and key senators' phone numbers

Have you ever been to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis? We haven’t, but we felt like we had after reading John Philip Duck by Patricia Polacco. It’s the story of how the Peabody Duck March got started, way back in the 1930s. Polacco was inspired to research and write about the tradition after staying at the hotel and watching the ducks strutting the red carpet from the elevator to the lobby fountain:

After reading John Philip Duck, we found a video of the duck march:

Harriet and I have been on a Patricia Polacco kick lately, recently reading Mrs. Katz and Tush, Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair, and Thundercake before heading back to the library for more. Lucky for us, the 80-year-old author and illustrator has written and illustrated dozens of books in her career (and she didn’t start writing books until she was in her 40s!). I was first introduced to Polacco’s wonderful picture books while teaching elementary school writing in Brooklyn—my friend and mentor Jenna kept baskets of them in her fifth grade class because she knew that high-quality, well-written picture books were often better for kids than “chapter books,” and Polacco’s rich illustrations and intricate stories offered a lot to readers at every level. Polacco didn’t learn to read until she was a teenager, when she was finally diagnosed with dyslexia and given better tools for learning. She describes this experience in the autobiographical Thank You, Mr. Falker, a book Bea remembers as “sad and sweet.”

Harriet especially loves the way she draws cats, which frequently appear in her books. “She’s great at drawing animals in general,” Harriet says.

After reading John Philip Duck, we decided to learn a little about Mallard ducks, and especially enjoyed this article (by a student!) about the ducklings’ ability to imprint, which happens in the first few days of life. Ideally, duckings will see their mom and siblings and know exactly what they look like, so they can obediently follow the leader. If separated from its mom, a duck can also imprint on a person or even an object. Keeping the ducks in a straight line helps the mother duck keep them safe, accounted for, and (somewhat) less vulnerable to predators.

Bea has been studying for the district spelling bee, introducing us to some cool new words. Frazil is a word used to describe slushy ice that forms in the supercooled waters at the base of waterfalls and in very cold, rushing streams. Even though the water is below freezing, it’s moving too fast to fully solidify. Frazil ice can also be formed from frozen waterfall mist, which falls and accumulates in a creek or river. Here’s a video from Yosemite National Park:

It’s been cold here in North Carolina, and even slightly snowy.

Seeing our landscape transformed was fun but I think we’re ready for some signs of spring. Soon we’ll have daffodils and crocuses popping up—definitely ready for that.

In the meantime, we’re enjoying indoor fun—like rock climbing on the 22-foot wall at O.V. Yonder, a new-ish outdoors store in Graham. Bea and her friend Amelia had a great time testing their skills yesterday, and had the encouraging belayer all to themselves. First time, all-day climbs are only $12 for kids. The store is really charming—it even had part of an old ferris wheel inside the coffee shop!—and well-stocked with camping and backpacking gear, rugged but cute clothes and shoes, and even kayaks and paddleboards. We’ll definitely be back—now more than ever, it’s important to shop local!

And a little update from Monday’s MLK Day day of service—it was packed, with people of all ages boxing up hygiene supplies and making cards and friendship bracelets for hurricane survivors in Western NC. Thanks to the Rotary Club for putting together such a great community event!

If you have some time, put these senators’ numbers into your phone and call to let them know how you feel about RFK Jr’s dangerous nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services:

Thom Tillis of NC: (202) 224-6342

Susan Collins of Maine: (202) 224-2523

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska: (202) 224-6665

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky (a polio survivor!): (202) 224-2541

John Curtis of Utah: (202) 224-5251

Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island (a Democrat but former UVA Law hunting buddy of RFK Jr.): (202) 224-2921

RFK Jr. can only lose three votes and be confirmed. The above are all targeted senators—people who might be persuaded that an anti-vax conspiracy theorist isn’t the best choice to lead the FDA, the CDC, and respond to public health emergencies. Sheldon Whitehouse is on the list because he hasn’t definitively said he won’t vote for RFK Jr. even though the people who put him in office expect him to put his state, not his friendships, first.

Your own senators are the best targets, but try calling any of these folks, especially if you have a connection to their state (for example, Mamie could say, “Senator Tillis, my grandchildren live in North Carolina and I’m a frequent visitor.”)

Here’s a sample message I cribbed from Doctors for America:

Hi Senator Tillis, this is Belle Boggs. I’m a mom of two, and I live in the great state of North Carolina and am one of your consituents. I strongly oppose the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services because he is unqualified and has a dangerous track record of spreading false information about health.

Our nation’s health and healthcare system are in need of reform and improvement. The American public deserves to have full, unbiased information on how to protect their health. But the nomination of RFK Jr. leaves my family deeply concerned that he will harm the nation’s health by continuing to spread false health information.

Vaccines save millions of lives every year. Treating vaccine-preventable disease is costly for families and for local and state authorities. Kennedy’s anti-science views and proposed policies would also greatly harm our state’s research-driven economy.

I urge you to oppose Mr. Kennedy's nomination.

Feel free to ad-lib, of course. If you’re a medical professional, or you have a family member who is a polio survivor, or you would prefer not to have measles outbreaks in your community, tell them that!

How are you spending your Sunday, Frog Troublers? What are you looking forward to as the days get longer?