United StatesThe Tale of the Mandarin Ducks
by Katherine PatersonPage 1 of 2
 Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon This powerful Japanese folktale begins when a cruel lord captures a Mandarin duck solely for the prize of its magnificent plumage. When a compassionate servant girl releases the bird after its beauty fades, the lord sentences her and her true love to death. The illustrations are both realistic and illuminating and truly bring this folktale to life. |
Enrichment ActivitiesInternet ResourcesBooks by Katherine PatersonEnrichment Activities
- All About The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks Quiz
Have your students take the online quiz All About The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, or print out a copy to give to them.
- Explore the Work of Illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon
Sometime after reading the Mandarin duck folktale, read students Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, a book also illustrated by the Dillons. Have them brainstorm the similarities between the drawings in the two books. As an extra activity they can complete the word puzzle Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.
- Folktale Festival Report
After completing this folktale report, students can find Japan in an atlas or on a globe and color in the area on a map of Asia.
- Is It Found on Land, in Water, or Both?
The Mandarin ducks in this folktale lived in the water and on land. Use the activity Is It Found on Land, in Water, or Both? to help students understand that animals live in many different places.
- Thank-You Cards
Students can pretend they are the captured Mandarin duck that is released by the servant. Then, have them write cards to Yasuko and Shozo thanking them for saving "your life."
Internet Resources
Japanese Feudal Lords (Daimyos)
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary
This article describes the history of Japanese feudal lords, also known as Daimyos.
http://www.ox.compsoc.net/~gemini/simons/historyweb/daimyo.html
Katherine Paterson Biography
Grade Levels: All
Find out about the very interesting and culturally diverse life of this famous author.
http://books.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/authorstudies/authorhome.jsp?authorID=80&displayName=Biography
Mandarin Duck Photo Gallery
Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate, Middle, Secondary
Beautiful pictures of Mandarin ducks and the colorful markings Katherine Paterson describes in the story.
http://cyborganic.com/People/feathersite/Poultry/NDG/Ducks/Mand/
BRKMandarin.html
The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks Video
Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
This site allows you and your students to watch a video of the story The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks.
http://video.dpi.state.nc.us/Tekdata/TaleOfMandarinDucks.html
Word Find Puzzle Maker
Grade Levels: All
Use this Family Education Network site to create a word find puzzle using vocabulary words from The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks.
http://fen.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/shtml.cgi?A1=../detect/index.html
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