Dump Truck Duck by Megan E. Bryant + Giveaway

Megan E. Bryant is the author of more than 170 children’s books, and today she’d like to share a little about the making of her latest picture book, Dump Truck Duck, with our readers.

The moment the idea for DUMP TRUCK DUCK struck me, I knew I was onto something—and the enthusiastic response from my then-three-year-old daughter confirmed it. “Write that book, Mommy,” she said, pulling me toward my office. “Write it right now.”

If only it were so simple!

First, of course, I had to figure out the plot, the characters, and—since I knew I wanted the book to rhyme—the rhythm and rhyme scheme. But there was an even bigger, more fundamental issue gnawing at me: How could I write a construction book with an environmental conscience?

It’s no secret that kids adore construction sites; I remember well how my brother and I would watch in awe as big diggers and tough trucks transformed a site, preparing it for the construction of a new building. Decades have passed, but my own kids are just as fascinated by construction vehicles as my brother and I once were. There’s something so impressive and astonishing about witnessing the transformations these massive machines can accomplish; they truly change the world as we know it. And yet now that I’m an adult, I recognize that new construction projects can be accompanied by other concerns, too, including issues like urban sprawl, deforestation, habitat destruction, and environmental damage. These are important topics to introduce to our children, who will inherit this great and glorious Earth we call home. It was official: I needed to find a balance between celebrating tough trucks and protecting our planet.

Suddenly, inspiration struck: What if the truck ducks went to a natural place that had been destroyed by litter and disrespect—and used their machinery to remediate and improve it? At last, I’d found the perfect angle for the book! I envisioned an abandoned dump with trash everywhere, a barren piece of land where plants wouldn’t grow and no one would want to visit. Through hard work and sheer determination, the truck ducks could clean up the site, preparing it for builder ducks and gardener ducks. That left one last puzzle to solve. Once the site was ready, what should be built there? In nature, ducks build nests, but that didn’t seem like the right choice. What about a building, or a skyscraper? Still not quite there. And then, watching my daughter play at the park one sunny afternoon, I figured it out: The truck ducks would build a park, of course, with a spectacular playground. What child wouldn’t enjoy seeing the stages of park construction unfold in a book?

From there, the manuscript flowed easily, though I spent a lot of time polishing the rhymes and making sure that the text flowed at a fast and energetic pace. After the incomparable Jo de Ruiter agreed to illustrate, I eagerly awaited the chance to see her artwork. She didn’t disappoint. The opening picture of the dump was just as filthy and disgusting as I imagined . . .

. . . and the beautiful park was perfect, with grassy lawns, picnic areas, and a delightful playground so appealing my kids wish they could jump into the book to play there! Jo’s illustrations perfectly capture the dedication and teamwork of the truck ducks, the builder ducks, and the gardener ducks—and also how much we stand to gain when we work together to protect our environment. It was so gratifying when Kirkus Reviews commented on the environmental subplot, noting that “some of the early illustrations of the messy site may even spark discussions about litter and pollution.” After all, that’s exactly what I’d hoped to do.

You can grab a copy of Dump Truck Duck over at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and make sure you visit the other stops on the blog tour for more reviews, giveaways, and other fun activities.

Megan E. Bryant is also offering one lucky Game On Mom reader a chance to win a copy right here!  Open to US residents who are 18 and older.  Ends 6/20.  Good luck!