Dilbert the Duck Visits Bryce Canyon National Park by Debbie Houghton

“I chose a duck because I thought that he would be totally different and unique,” Houghton said. At the very beginning of the first book, he sets out from his home in a wholly illustrated setting to explore America’s national parks with his companion, Succulent. 1, and is best suited for early readers ages 5-8, though children as old as 12 can still enjoy the series, Ashley Harmon said.Īn adventuring duck named Dilbert is the central character of the new series. The books’ mixed media approach uses Houghton’s writing alongside Justin Harmon’s drawings, all placed in real-world locales photographed by Ashley Harmon. 11, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Ashley Harmon, St. A portrait of Debbie Houghton, a local teacher and author of the new Dilbert the Duck series of children’s books, location unspecified, Aug. Together, the trio has already written and illustrated two new books, “Dilbert the Duck Visits Zion National Park” and “Dilbert the Duck Visits Bryce Canyon National Park,” both of which are available for preorder for $25 each. Their goal was to combine scenic photography, original artwork and poetic storytelling to celebrate the outdoors and encourage children to get outside. We need them to want to do fun things.”Īs an idea began to form in Houghton’s mind, she reached out to her daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Justin Harmon, for their help in creating a book series. And then, when we started to be able to go back outside, I thought, ‘We have got to get kids moving. When I started to run out of stories, my grandkids were really sad. “Then I started doing it for my class as well. “I started reading a story a day, recording it and then sending it out to my grandkids,” she said. Houghton, a second grade teacher at Three Falls Elementary School, was spending more time at home with fewer opportunities to see her grandkids after the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. The cover of “Dilbert the Duck Visits Zion National Park” | Image courtesy of Ashley Harmon, St. GEORGE - Debbie Houghton got the idea for her new children’s book series after starting a tradition of virtual storytime with her grandchildren.

Dilbert the Duck Visits Bryce Canyon National Park by Debbie Houghton