Duck, Death and the Tulip facts for kids
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| Author | Wolf Erlbruch |
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| Original title | Ente, Tod und Tulpe |
| Illustrator | Wolf Erlbruch |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
Duck, Death and the Tulip (its German name is Ente, Tod und Tulpe) is a special children's book. It was written and illustrated by a German artist named Wolf Erlbruch in 2007. This book talks about big ideas like death and what might happen after we die.
Many people around the world have read this book. It has been translated into different languages, like Dutch and English. The story has also been made into animated films and other movies.
Contents
The Story of Duck and Death
The book tells the story of a duck who meets a character called Death. It turns out Death has been quietly following the duck her whole life. Even though this sounds scary, the duck and Death actually become friends.
They spend time together, talking about life and what happens when someone dies. They even go diving in the duck's pond. They also sit in a tree, thinking about what will happen to the pond after the duck is gone.
What Happens at the End?
The duck shares some ideas about what happens after death. She mentions that some ducks believe they become angels. These angels then sit on clouds and look down at the Earth. Death thinks this sounds possible because ducks already have wings!
The duck also talks about a different idea. Some ducks believe there is a "hell" where bad ducks get roasted. Death finds it interesting what ducks imagine. He simply says, "who knows?" The duck then realizes that Death doesn't have all the answers either.
In the end, the duck does pass away. Death gently carries her to a river. He places the duck softly in the water. Then, he lays a tulip on her. Death watches her for a long time as she floats away. The book says he felt "almost a little moved."
Bringing the Story to Life: Adaptations
Duck, Death and the Tulip has been brought to life in different ways. The story's important messages have been shared through films.
The Animated Film
One adaptation is an animated film directed by Matthias Bruhn. Famous German actors lent their voices to the characters. Harry Rowohlt voiced Death, and Anna Thalbach voiced the Duck.
This animated film was very successful. It was nominated for the Cartoon d'or award in 2010. It also won the Animated Film Award at the SCHLINGEL International Film Festival in 2010. The film even opened the Lucas Filmfestival for children's films that year. It was shown on a popular German TV show called Die Sendung mit der Maus.
The Short Film
In 2011, another short film with the same name was released. It was directed by Andrea Simon. This version tells a unique story. It shows two young sisters dealing with the death of their mother. They find comfort by reading the Duck, Death and the Tulip book.
In this film, the book's story is acted out by two dancers. This mixes real people with the book's characters. It creates a special way to show how the book helps the sisters.
