By Danny Teigman
, reminding them of the timeless lesson to not judge a book by its cover, or a bird by its feathers.
It is late May and the Central Park-dwelling Gadwall ducks are, like many well-to-do New Yorkers, preparing for their seasonal romp out to Duckhampton - near the famed South Fork communities of Easthampton, Southampton and Bridgehampton. As any self-respecting duck knows, explained Mr. Gadwall to his five little ducklings, "To be a Gadwall, is to do as Gadwalls do. All birds are different and they must be treated so."
Swans like the "Rockefeathers" and the "Vanderbills" rule the roost while ducks are just beneath, and pigeons and geese are never to be spoken to because "they are dirty, dangerous, and will steal your feathers," Gadwall warns.
But as their journey begins, taking them over famous landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, and less famous stop-overs like "East Egg," "Manquackset," "Ronquackama" and "East Quack," the Gadwalls' youngest duckling, Robert, is separated from his family. To find them, he must disobey his father's rules and befriend other birds who know the way, after learning that they are no different from himself.
"The book has a great message to the world about diversity and acceptance," said Jo-Anne McClean, Christian's mother, who called the work "clever," and was sitting on the gymnasium bleachers watching her son like she had done when he was a student. ..."I'm delighted with what he's doing. I'm especially delighted because he's really happy."
McClean, 29, and a Marion Street graduate of 1989, began writing his first book seven years ago, he said, when he was living in Belize after college, working for a not-for-profit, teaching literacy. During his six-month stay, he was also reading New York author Nelson DeMille's investigative thriller, "Plum Island," which features many eastern Long Island landmarks, when he grew homesick, but also inspired. "I started thinking I should write a book about Long Island," McClean said.
With the seeds of creativity already sewn, McClean advanced his undergraduate degree he received in English from Hobart College, and earned a masters in letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Back in New York, living on Shelter Island, McClean freelanced for local papers while working on his book. A children's book, he said, was an easier first attempt at writing, rather than creating a truly DeMille-like novel. To help add to the book's geographic realism, Rhode Island illustrator Amelia Haviland toured the South Fork with McClean before she began drawing.
Thanks in part to those efforts, McClean said, in addition to teaching about respect, the book has also been used as a Long Island geography study aid.
"I think that there's enough in the book that you don't actually have to be from Manhattan or the East End," he added.
Based on the number of excited hands raised by students after the reading, the book successfully captured its young audience.
"Why did you want to become an author," asked Kerrin, a second-grader from Mrs. Moscheni's class?
To which McClean responded that he always wanted to be a writer since he was young and that it was fun doing it.
Now living in Manhattan, McClean said he is working on a sequel to "Duckhampton," called "Downtown." In it, the Gadwalls think they want to buy new "winter coats" before the weather turns colder, changing their outward appearance and embarking on a classic New York shopping spree. But they soon realize that it's better to embrace the feathers that nature has given them.
Ultimately, the duckling Robert finds "Duckhampton" and sways his father's narrow-minded beliefs - "without ruffling a single feather." Because, like his friend Pigeon says, "[We] are all just birds like you and me."
Comments about this story? DTeigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246.
