Overview and Outcomes:

In this five-stage Story Sapling, practitioners begin by setting up a Discovery Point where children enter the classroom to find that a castle has appeared and so have moving boxes. There are also duck prints and there is a duck. The children receive a note to help unpack the boxes, making a list of the items inside as well as labelling the boxes. As they journey through the Sapling they will learn more about the relationship between Duck and Colin, a vampire who doesn’t want to share his castle. They will have fun discovering Duck in new places in their classroom each day, while creating chracter descriptions and a setting description for the ideal castle. They will act in role as Colin and Duck, creating speech bubbles for the characters. Finally, they will consider how hurt Duck might be feeling at being rejected by Colin and they will create a class guide for ‘How to get along with others’. 

Synopsis of Text:

Colin’s new castle is perfect in every way – apart from the DUCK. The duck pops up when Colin’s in the bath. When he’s watching telly. When he’s ON THE LOO. QUACK! But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Colin has a PLAN. Will he succeed in banishing Duck from his castle and leading the bird-free life that he dreams of?

Text Rationale:

This award-winning picture book from author-illustrator Holly Swain offers a fun and engaging story about a Vampire called Colin who learns how to get along with an unexpected house guest. The humour in this book will appeal to readers of all ages but is particurlary great for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Bringing opportunities to think about similarities and differences, belonging, and how to include others, this book will support children through the carefully constructed, humourous narrative and brilliantly drawn illustrations that lend themselves to inference and prediction.

Links and Themes:

Outside inside, friendship & kindness, wild things, lost & found

Date written: June 2026