Duck's Big Racing Chance Jolly Phonics · Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city
Practice Words
'This,' says Girl, holding up Duck, 'is the fastest duck in town.' Duck puffs up and holds out a wing. Tall Girl bends in for a look. Boy peeks too. Girl in Yellow Dress glances at Duck. 'That duck?' says Boy. 'That duck does not look fast.'
'Look at this,' says Girl. Duck flaps. Duck kicks. Duck bounces up. One foot comes off the dirt. Then the next foot. Then Duck just hangs there in the sky, and drops down slow. The kids gaze up in shock. 'See?' says Girl. 'Flying.' 'That is not flying,' says Boy. 'That is falling. Slow falling.'
But Girl keeps on. Each morning, she and Duck race up the hills. Girl sprints. Duck sprints too, wings out, beak wide, honking like a wee horn. They race up slopes. They race down slopes. Girl pants hard, and Duck's feet just zoom. 'Faster,' pants Girl. 'The big flock race is soon. This is our big chance.'
Race day comes. Girl rubs Duck on the neck, nice and slow, as she does before each big thing. Duck stands very still. 'This is Duck's big chance,' says Girl. 'Duck is far faster than it looks.' Boy waves his arms. 'Hey, all! Girl thinks her bouncy duck can beat all the flock!' The kids grin and grin.
The horn blasts. Toot! Up go the racing ducks, slick and swift, a big flock in the sky. And Duck, wings pumping, beak first, blasts up to chase the flock. 'Go, Duck, go!' Girl screams, arms out wide. The kids all scream too. Then they all see it. Duck gets faster. And faster!
Duck does not just catch the flock. Duck trounces the flock! Duck zips past one duck, then five ducks, then ten, like they all just hang still in the sky. Boy's mouth drops open. Girl pumps her fist and points up. 'That is my duck!' The excited crowd is up and cheering now, as the bounciest duck in town zooms far in front.
Duck crosses the finish line far, far in front. The rest lag way back. Girl jumps so high she may just fly off too. The crowd screams with glee. They wave cloths up high. One kid honks a loud hailer. Kids from all round town chant, 'Duck! Duck! Duck!' Boy just stands there and blinks. He winces. 'But Duck can not even get off the dirt,' he says.
Girl scoops Duck up in the biggest hug ever. Tall Girl rushes in with a grin to pat the champ. Girl in Yellow Dress dances with glee, hand up high. Boy pumps his fist and grins the biggest grin. 'Yes,' he says. 'Yes! That duck is fast.' Girl hugs Duck and says, 'I said so!' Duck goes quack!
Bookbot is not endorsed by or affiliated with UFLI (the University of Florida Literacy Institute) or Jolly Learning Ltd. UFLI Foundations and Jolly Phonics are trademarks of their respective owners.