Introducing Daisy and the Dirty Dozen

Introducing Daisy and the Dirty Dozen

A children’s book based on a true story

One of the best things about Folsom is that we have accessible open space and trails that allow us to leave an urban setting and walk with nature. Many Folsom residents live right at the edges of these preserved areas and are afforded the opportunity to see a wide range of wildlife up close.

Sometimes, you get an even closer look!

Last spring, a female mallard decided that our backyard was the perfect place to lay a nest. We would see the duck from time to time but didn’t think much of it. We knew very little about ducks, but after a while, we figured out that Daisy (a name we had given her) was protecting her clutch. I turned to Folsom’s trusted (now retired) animal control officer, Cindy Walden, for advice. Cindy said that the ducks would leave and that we should just enjoy the show. Within days, we had a mama and her 12 ducklings in our swimming pool!

Over the course of their two-week stay in our yard, we took a lot of photos and videos of the ducks and shared what we captured on social media. The response was overwhelming. People enjoyed this unique opportunity to see nature up-close. Daisy and her Dirty Dozen treated us to a show on a regular basis. We have footage of them running up a ramp, diving to the bottom of the pool, and even going down the pool’s water slide!

This April, I released my first children’s book. Daisy and the Dirty Dozen chronicles the duck’s stay in our backyard. It was written after several friends and family members had expressed interest in seeing me write and illustrate a book about our family’s experience. The book gives kids a chance to see a mama duck caring for her young, touches on the importance of treating wildlife with respect, and shows how humans can co-exist with nature in even the most unlikely of situations.

The book is available in hardback, soft cover, and eBook. It can be purchased on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

The author, Brian Wallace, is also doing several book readings/signings in the Folsom area this month in celebration of the release of the book. Check out the book’s website for videos of the real-life Daisy and the Dirty Dozen and a schedule of upcoming events.

 www.daisyandthedirtydozen.com

About The Author

Brian Wallace is a native northern Californian with a love of art, illustration and children’s literature. He worked professionally as a graphic designer and art director prior to settling in as a marketing director for a professional consulting firm. When a family of ducks took over his backyard swimming pool one spring, he was surprised by how interested friends and neighbors were in the ducks. He was inspired to write this book to tell his story to share his experiences and promote the responsible treatment of wildlife. He lives in Folsom, California with his wife Jessica and their two children, Cole and Claire. Daisy and the Dirty Dozen is his first children’s book.

Quick links to get you where you want to go: