Delilah the Duck Speaks Up for Herself
Delilah the Duck Coloring Page
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This story intends to teach children the importance of self-advocacy and the power of speaking up for oneself, especially in small, personal matters like the correct pronunciation of their name.
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1. "How would you feel if someone said your name wrong?"
2. "Can you think of a time when you were brave like Delilah?"
3. "What is special about your name, just like Delilah's?"
Once upon a time, in a lovely pond surrounded by lush green trees, there lived a shy little duck named Delilah. She had soft, fluffy feathers and big, bright eyes. Delilah loved to swim and play with her friends, but she was much quieter than the other ducks. Every morning, the pond would wake up with the sounds of quacking and splashing, as the ducks enjoyed their day. Delilah, however, would often sit by herself on the bank, watching the others play.
Delilah had a tiny problem that made her heart feel heavy. Whenever someone called her "Del-EE-ah" instead of "De-LIE-lah," she felt a little pinch in her heart. But Delilah was too shy to correct them. She would just quack softly and look down at her webbed feet, feeling sad and angry at herself and her name. She worried they might stop being her friend if she corrected them or that they might laugh at her.
One sunny afternoon, Delilah was playing hide-and-seek with her friends. Whenever someone found her, they would shout, "Del-EE-ah, we found you!" Each time, Delilah's heart sank a little more. She wished she could tell them her real name, but she was afraid they might laugh or think she was being rude. She watched the other ducks play and laugh, wishing she could be as bold and confident as they were.
Later that day, at School, Delilah shared her feelings with her teacher, Mrs. Featherwing. Mrs. Featherwing was a kind and understanding duck who loved teaching. She listened to Delilah's problem with a warm smile. "Delilah, your name is as special as you are," Mrs. Featherwing said gently. "It's important to let others know the right way to say it. I'm sure your friends will appreciate knowing the real pronunciation of your beautiful name." Mrs. Featherwing shared a story about how she once had to correct someone who mispronounced her name, and how it made her feel relieved. This made Delilah feel a lot better and gave her the courage she needed to address her friends.
The next day, Delilah gathered all her courage. When her friend Rosie called her "Del-EE-ah," Delilah took a deep breath and said, "Actually, my name is pronounced De-LIE-lah. It's okay, I just wanted you to know." Rosie smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Delilah. I didn't know. I'll make sure to say it right from now on!" Delilah felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over her. She realized that her friends cared about her and respected her feelings.
From that day on, everyone called her by her correct name. Delilah felt a newfound sense of pride in her name and in herself. She realized that standing up for herself wasn't as scary as she thought. Delilah was no longer just a shy little duck; she was Delilah the Brave, proud of who she was and happy to quack her beautiful name loud and clear. She played more with her friends, and they admired her for her bravery. Delilah learned that it's okay to speak up for yourself, and that true friends will always listen and care.
