PUDDLES the Duck Learns to Believe
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It seemed like the perfect pond. It was surrounded by trees and was filled with lily pads and flowers. It’s where Puddles the Duck called home. Still, Puddles the Duck wasn’t complete or completely happy. You see, Puddles was born with a weak left wing and foot. The fact that Puddles felt different made her sad and embarrassed her. Other animals sometimes made fun of her. She prayed that someway, somehow someone could fix her broken parts. She visited lots of doctors but they all said the same thing: “Your wing and foot may be weak, but they get you where you need to go and we can’t fix them.” Still, Puddles never gave up hope. She decided to count her blessings and believe in herself.
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About the Book
Puddles the duck isn’t like the other ducks and animals. You see, Puddles was born with a left wing and foot that are weaker than her right ones, making some things hard and even impossible for her to do. But despite disappointment and discouragement, thanks to a smart doctor and some added courage, Puddles learns she is not only strong, but brave and special. The book is inspired by the author’s daughter Kristen’s journey with her disability and her beloved stuffed animal she named Puddles. Like Puddles, she visited many doctors and the merry-go-round part was the message from one of her actual doctors and it changed her life. Kristen’s weakness eventually made her stronger, more adaptable to adversity, and more empathetic to those who have any disability or imperfection. This is what Carla hopes this book will convey and teach to all who read it.
About the Author
Carla Luna Smith is a freelance writer and former journalist and publicist who took on the challenging job of teaching three-year-olds while taking her young daughter to doctors and physical therapists. She fell in love with that age group’s curious minds and read to them daily. Should “Puddles the Duck Learns to Believe” ever make it into preschools, it would make the author both proud and grateful. Finnegan Hein is an illustrator and visual storyteller who loves bringing imaginative characters to life. Inspired by comics and animation, Finnegan creates worlds designed to pull readers into the story. Finnegan hopes his illustrations in "Puddles the Duck Learns to Believe" will help reinforce its message and make people smile.