Saturday, February 14, 2015



Title: Duck! Rabbit! 
Authors: Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld
Themes: Communication, Developing Perspective, Friendship, Individuation, Social Skills, Validation, DBT
Age Recommendation: Pre-K through High School

Summary: Duck! Rabbit! is the story of two friends who can't agree on what a cloud looks like. One sees a duck, the other sees a rabbit. Both friends have evidence to support their claim and both are sure their opinion is correct! In the end, both friends also change their minds and see what the other is seeing in the cloud.

Ideas / Interventions: This is a great, short book to read when introducing the concept of a dialectic, discussing how to validate another's perspective, or teaching social skills. When using this book with older kids, I like to acknowledge that it's "kind of little kid" but ask them to play along; this approach usually helps them feel less guarded in the discussion that follows. If possible, read this book with a teen and their parent; after reading the book together, ask them to discuss times when they may have fallen into the trap of arguing their point instead of listening to what the other person wants to share.

When using this book with younger children, I like to read the book twice; once before introducing a skill, and then again afterwards. When reading it the second time, ask the child to come up with alternative, validating responses to the back-and-forth arguing that the friends do in the book. After they have practiced the skill, have your client read the book and teach the skill to their parent(s). 

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