Funky: The duck with dancing dreams

A review by Colin McGregor

In 1910, in his epic poem « If, » the British poet Rudyard Kipling wrote:

If you can face Triumph and Disaster

And treat both these impostors alike…

Yours is the Earth and everything in it.

That’s essentially the theme of a new children’s book, Funky, the duck with dancing dreams. It’s written by a truly remarkable author, world-renowned breakdancer Luca « Lazylegz » Patuelli from Montreal.

Childhood can be a confusing and frightening time of life. Children can be intolerant of the weaknesses and failures of their peers. Our book tells the story of Funky Foot, a duck who walks differently because one webbed foot and one wing are underdeveloped. He dreams of becoming a dancer and performing at « Duckfest, » the biggest festival on his pond.

We learn what it’s like to be frustrated, yet determined. The book is beautifully illustrated with Klervia Martel’s soft yet powerful pastels. Funky is inspired by other ducks, not out of envy. By copying them, while maintaining his individuality, he strives to achieve his goal, to make his dream come true.

One wonders if this is how Luca succeeded. He was born with arthrogryposis, a rare muscular disorder that affects his legs. The sheer determination in his eyes as he moves around on crutches, rolling and dancing with young people who come to Café Graffiti to learn dance, is astounding. Although famous for two decades, Luca treats everyone as if he appreciates them, which he does.

Martel perfectly captures the sparkle in Funky’s eyes. The key for Funky is to do the best he can with what he has. He focuses on what makes him stand out, his differences, his unique traits.

This book is published in English and French, two of Luca’s languages – he speaks Italian too.

We’re fortunate that Luca and his b-boy group, ILLAbilities, performers with varying disabilities who travel the world to inspire young people, are regular members of Café Graffiti. They come together like the Avengers to perform on every continent, including in North America, sometimes in Montreal. Their motto: « No excuses, no limits. »

When the book was available at a recent ILL-Abilities fundraising performance at the Maisonneuve Maison de la culture, they went like hotcakces. Kids couldn’t keep their hands off of them.  

Creating a children’s book takes a lot of work, and the team at Éditions TNT deserves credit. At the end of the book, there are some thought-provoking remarks, and even a coloring page.

It’s his glorious and difficult past, where he overcame obstacles, that undoubtedly helped Luca find how to motivate children through the pages of his first children’s book, and we don’t think it will be his last.

Olympic dancer, organizer, and motivational speaker, Luca can now add children’s author to his list of achievements. An achievement he is very proud of. The man who transforms weakness into strength. An ideal book for children who wish to do the same.

Funky: The duck with dancing dreams

Available on the ÉditionsTNT.com website.