It’s no wonder Laura Backman bonded right away with Lemon, a Pekin duck. At 10 years old, her father, Richard, brought a bunch of ducklings to their Common Fence Point home where Laura and her sister raised them. (There’s a photo of her in the Sakonnet Times a few decades back, amidst 21 ducks.) Lemon hatched in Ms. Backman’s Melville School kindergarten class, in 2004, as part of a life-science project. Amongst the three other ducklings, it was noticeable that Lemon was different. And it wasn’t just her tufted mohawk or spunky attitude. Lemon has a neurological disorder that disrupts her balance so she can’t stand. Ms. Backman took Lemon home to care for her; but Lemon still makes daily visits to Melville where Ms. Backman is now a reading specialist. Lemon gets around in a custom walker with wheels; the duck pushes with her strong legs and flaps her wings to go faster, and she loves to swim. Lemon brings back memories of Ms. Backman’s father, Richard, who suffered from multiple sclerosis until he passed away three years ago. Ms. Backman, her sister and her mother all cared for Richard. But Lemon doesn’t just conjure up that motherly instinct in Ms. Backman, Lemon also reminds her of the cherished years she had with her father as they raised ducklings together. Ms. Backman wrote a children’s book, “Lemon the Duck,” that tells the story of that happy, lucky duck. All proceeds are donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of Richard, and to the Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary, in Conn., which helped Ms. Backman with Lemon. (www.lemontheduck.com)

Why take Lemon home? “I had already fallen in love with her. How could you not? I wanted to give her the best life I could.”

How do you travel with Lemon? “When she was young, I kept her in a fanny pack. Now, I push her around in a baby carriage.”

Why name her Lemon? “My grandmother makes a lemon meringue pie and Lemon was the same shade when she was born.”

What’s the premise of the book? “That just because somebody is disabled that they can still live a full and happy life. Sometimes they need help from their friends. I wanted it to go beyond feeling empathy. I wanted kids to think about quality of life and how they can help.”

Reach out to kids? “She’s visited the Shake-A-Leg camp for children with disabilities. And when I bring her to school I make it a priority to visit the children with special needs because I think they can connect with her more.”

Do you understand Lemon’s quacks? “She has soft quacks, bossy quacks, and an I’m just putting in my two cents quack.”

How has Lemon changed you? “I’m definitely more social. You can’t get away with walking around a park (pushing Lemon in a carriage) without someone stopping. It made me realize how dedicated a person I can be (Lemon requires a lot of care). And it’s helped me get over my dad somewhat because she reminds me of him.”

Obscure duck knowledge? “Oviparous: egg-layers. There’s an oil gland on the base of the tail that they rub onto their beak and then onto the feathers to waterproof them.”

Write more books? “If this one’s successful, the publisher would like to make it a series.”

Hobby? “Yard sales.”

Favorite cartoon as a kid? “Bugs Bunny.”

Person you’d like to meet? “My dad’s mom, Myra. He really cared for her and I never got to meet her.”

Good duck joke? “Why do ducks watch the news? For the feather forecast.”