Air quality

Auntie Duck, who is she?

Auntie Duck is the main character in a children’s storybook focusing on air pollution and its impact on our health and wellbeing.The storybook helps children understand more about the air they breathe, and how they can help keep it clean.

The Auntie Duck storybook

To celebrate Clean Air Day in June 2024, Sandwell Council launched Auntie Duck, a free new air quality-themed storybook. The Dog, Duck and Cat Charitable Trust wrote the book with advice from Sandwell's Air Quality Officers.

Auntie Duck helps children explore the topic of air pollution in a gentle, age-appropriate way.  

She arrives from abroad to visit her nephew, Duck, and shares her experiences of breathing in dirty air on her travels. Along the way, she explains where air pollution comes from, how it affects our health, and what we can all do to help.

Auntie Duck helps children understand the complex subject of air pollution in a simple and fun way.

 Click here to read the Auntie Duck Storybook

Why the book matters

The air we breathe affects our health every day, especially for children as they breath faster and their lungs are still growing, so they are more vulnerable to air pollution. But because we can’t always see air pollution, we don't often think about it or the harm it is doing to us.

Auntie Duck helps start important conversations with young children about clean air, caring for the environment, and looking after each other. It’s a great way for families, schools, and communities to begin talking about air quality and what small actions we can all take to help make the air safer for us all.

The storybook covers the following key areas:

• What air quality is.
• What air pollution is and where it comes from.
• Understanding how poor air quality can affect humans. 
• Understanding why keeping air pollution to a minimum is important.
• Understanding what we can all do to improve air quality.
• Knowing how you can see what the air quality is like where you live/ go to school etc..
• Promoting that children if children are worried or scared, they should tell an adult they can trust.

What we offer

For Schools

• Free printed copy of the book: Every primary school in Sandwell is being offered a free copy of the book.
• Lesson plans: Two lesson plans which have been designed with a PSHE educational consultant. These align with the KS2 Curriculum and include key learning outcomes, activities, timings, and resources.
• Teaching resources: A package of hands-on educational resources to allow pupils to explore air pollution, active travel and road safety, along with opportunities to explore how to effectively communicate this information to others. Along with interactive quizzes, Power Points and worksheets, this is a self-contained and easy to use package of resources.
• Auntie Duck Day: This includes interactive book reading sessions, engaging classroom activities and discussions to promote positive behaviour changes, facilitated by officers from Sandwell Council's Air Quality team.

We would love to share Auntie Duck with your school! Simply click on any of the links below to get started.

        Request For Your School’s Free Copy or Book an Auntie Duck Day

        Access Resources for Your Class

For Libraries, Hospitals, Faith Centres, Bookshops, Community Groups

• Free storybook and resources: The digital version of the storybook and a wide range of resources are available and FREE for your centre to use.
• Book Reading Visits: We offer interactive sessions with storytelling, activities, and quizzes.

Want Auntie Duck to visit your setting? Request a Free Book Reading or Access Free Resources for Your Centre

Book readings and events

Where has Auntie Duck been already?

Auntie Duck has been visiting schools and community venues across Sandwell. Our book readings often result in lively discussions, and can be followed up with creative activities that leave children with a much better understanding of air quality and how they can help make a positive difference. Below is a list of just some of the places Auntie Duck has visited over the last year.

Auntie Duck event feedback

“The children really enjoyed the assembly and were really engaged throughout. The story resonated with them, particularly the younger ones, and it sparked conversations about the car situation outside our school gates every morning and afternoon. It has also had a positive impact on our Living Streets Travel Tracker as we are seeing lots of children encouraging parents to walk or park further away to walk so they can earn their badges..”    Year 5 Class Teacher

“The children enjoyed the book reading so much! And look forward to future workshops.”   Headteacher

“I have really enjoyed reading this…Illustrations are amazing. I will be reading it to my grandchildren. My grandchildren will be calling me Nanny duck instead of Nanny Ro.”  ­Grandparent

“I love that this book is not only fictional, but it's also factual!”   Year 4 Student

“This book has greatly influenced me, thank you so much!”  Year 3 Student

Get involved

Partnership opportunities

We're always looking to work with schools and organisations across the borough, we are a passionate team who want to help support children's education, health and wellbeing. Whether you're a local council, public health body, school network, community organisation, or creative partner, we'd love to hear from you.

Ways we can collaborate and partnership work include:

• Hosting joint events and workshops
• Sharing educational content and co-developing new resources
• Including Auntie Duck in your sustainability or environmental education initiatives
• Promoting clean air messages through joint campaigns or social media
• Supporting community outreach and engagement in under represented areas

If you’re interested in partnering with us or have an idea for collaboration, please send us an email at pollutioncontrol@Sandwell.gov.uk

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who wrote the book?

Auntie Duck was written by the Dog, Duck and Cat Trust in collaboration with Sandwell Council’s Air Quality Officers.

Is it really free?

Yes, Auntie Duck is free for every school and community centre in Sandwell at no cost.

Who is this book for?

The book can be read by children aged 5 – 11 but is specifically for children aged 7 – 9.

Can you visit a centre outside of Sandwell?

Workshops are prioritised for schools and centres in Sandwell, but feel free to enquire and we will see what we can do.

Can I request the book for personal use?

Yes, the digital version of the book and resources are available for everyone for free.