Make Way for Ducklings

A classic you should check out!

We don't normally review books that were published so long ago, but I've "re-fallen" (is that a word?) in love with this book and I wanted to share with our readers. I was in Boston recently and, while browsing in the "Bostonian Society Museum Shop," found (or more aptly, re-discovered) Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. I LOVE this book. Make Way for Ducklings was originally published in 1941 and is about the ducks living on the Boston Common. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a place to live but they just can't seem to find the right spot. Finally, after much searching, they discover the perfect new home - a tiny little island, surrounded by a lovely pond, in the middle of the Boston Public Garden (a.k.a. Boston Common). The ducks love their new home and start thinking of raising a family there. But just then, a boy on his bike, vroom, vroom, comes squealing through the ducks. "We'll have to look somewhere else," suggests Mrs. Mallard. The ducks eventually find a quite spot next to the Charles River. They build a nest and hatch out eight wonderful ducklings. Life is grand for the new duck family. One day Mr. Mallard decides to go exploring and tells Mrs. Mallard that they should meet in a week at the Public Garden. Unfortunately, little ducklings can't fly. So in a week, they set off - right through the city of Boston! - to get to the Public Garden. Watch out! Baby ducklings on the move! Robert McCloskey got the idea for this book while living in Boston. "I noticed the traffic problem of the ducks, and heard a few stories about them. Then the book just sort of developed from there." (from the dust jacket) Make Way for Ducklings is a sweet story with fabulous drawings by the author (all in brown pencil - no bright, multi-colored pictures). The drawings have a very old-fashioned feel - check out the cars in the pictures! - which I really got a kick out of. The story itself is timeless. A bronze statue of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings (one has a tendency to wander off, er, get stolen from time to time) greets visitors to Boston Common while the book itself has never been out of print since 1941 and has sold over two million copies! If you go to Amazon to purchase, be careful about buying used copies. Because the book is so old, used copies apparently can be old, creaky, smelly, etc. The copy I bought is brand new. Quill says: If you've never read the book, or haven't seen it in a long time, check it out. Your kids should enjoy it as much as you did a "few" years ago.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

a kids' classic!

every kid should have this book on their shelves. it's a classic!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Charming Classic - Still Good

I got this book for my almost three-year-old because I am trying to impress on him the dangers of crossing the road without an adult. It's an adorable story with beautiful illustrations - and it has inspired several conversations about why the ducks needed the policemen to help them cross the road! Success!

My favourite illustrations ever, I think. A nice length for bedt

My favourite illustrations ever, I think. A nice length for bedtime, and as someone who's visited Boston it's nice to reminisce at the sights, too.

Classic Book - Highly recommend for a child's library

I purchase this book for all of our family and friend's newborns. Great classic and I feel a must have for a child's library

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is the story of Mr.

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard who are looking for the perfect place to raise their eight ducklings. They fly all over Boston in search of a place that will be both safe and quiet. They finally find a little spot next to the Charles River. There they hatch their eight little ducklings: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack. I always loved the rhyming names of the ducklings; in particular, I like Ouack and watching my parents struggle to pronounce his silly name. After the ducklings are hatched, Mr. Mallard goes on a trip to visit a little island in Boston Common. Mrs. Mallard agrees that she and the ducklings will meet him there in a week. Because the ducklings are too young to fly, the family must walk to the garden. Along the way, they find the help of Michael and other police officers who stop traffic and allow them to cross the road. At the end of the story, the Mallard family is happily reunited on the island in Boston Common and make a home for themselves there.

Make Way for Ducklings is a wonderful book for children. This book has been in print since 1941, and it is no surprise that it continues to find a place in the hearts of young children and families. Although the story is simple and endearing, the real value of this book comes from the illustrations. McCloskey won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for his brown pencil illustrations. The attention to detail is remarkable, the sketches fill the majority of the page and do a wonderful job of complimenting the story and bringing it to life. McCloskey sketched the ducks in such a way that they manage to look both expressive and very realistic. This book has found a place in my heart, and with it's charming story and beautiful pictures, I'm sure it will continue to be a favorite for children for many years to come.

I love this book!

I am from Boston although I live in Florida now and I LOVE this book! Have been reading it to my son since he was probably 1 or 2 and he absolutely loved it too!

A Favorite over Generations

My children loved this book when they were growing up so I gave each of my grandchildren a copy as they got older. It's a favorite of theirs too. I even have a 22 year old grandson that still has his copy!

Ducklings

I give this book at every single baby shower I attend...I know that they are too young for it (geared for the 5-8 range), but it is one of those classics that can be read again and again and should be one every child's book shelf. I grew up in Boston and it brings back wonderful memories for me. The pictures are well illustrated and the writing is sweet. It allows for a lot of discussion while reading it. Children are sure to be entertained but the ducks and ducklings in this wonderful story. There is a reason it got a Caldecott Award!

Beautiful children's book

This book is a charming story of what a community will do to help a young family stay safe. My daughter moved to Boston 5 years ago and promptly fell in love with the story. She can take young visitor's to the duckling statues, and she frequently sends out the book as a gift! This is an old book that has captured the hearts of everyone in Boston. The drawings are adorable and the story is memorable.

Great classic

I bought this as a gift to a friend who was adopting a special needs child from China. My daughter and I LOVED reading this over and over when whe was a young child.

Great Classic

My 5-year old son loves this classic.

Most awsome book

Every child should receive this book at birth. It is so lifelike and even tho it is not a true story it could be and in my opinion is. You have to be a true Bostonian to appreciate the wonder and excitement every page brings.

Classic kids still love!

I bought this for my granddaughters for Easter. All three of them, ages 6, 5 and 2 were glued while I read and really enjoyed it. Because it has simply drawn pictures relating directly to the story the girls were able to concentrate on the idea of the book. They actually asked questions about the story - not just the extras in the pictures!

Doesn't Matter if You Live in Boston, MA - This is a Classic Children's Story

As a child (50 years ago), I lived in the Boston, MA suburbs, and when I read this book, I loved the illustrations of the very well drawn ducks & ducklings. It tells the story of how the ducklings were born, and then their rather "dangerous" journey to the peaceful island where they finally "found" their home on a tiny island, on a small lake (Boston Commons park). On their journey, they encounter: young children riding bicycles; busy streets, with many bustling cars; and a policeman that "comes to their rescue" to safely escort them across the streets, and into Swan Lake. This book is considered more than just a "classic" - they have erected bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard and her 8 little ducklings at the entrance to the "Swan Boat" rides you can take, if you're ever lucky enough to visit Boston, MA - even today, year 2009!

Big City Challenges Mother Duck Leading Ducklings

Today, I'm going to post some of my childhood favorites. It may sound silly, but I sort of identify with this mother duck. It's like moms nursing and doing things like the regular 30 minute outings twice a day for babies and toddlers are practically a rare endangered species.<BR/><BR/>This is a good story that encourages children to stay in line.

Poor Mr. and Mrs. Mallard

Poor Mr. and Mrs. Mallard can't decide to agree on a place to raise their ducklings. Most everyone has had parents disagree once in a while and the parents probably aren't much different from momma and poppa Mallard. Will they ever agree on anything???? McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: The Viking Press, 1941.

Make way for Ducklings

This book was a 1999 Caldecott Award Winning book. In this story Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are trying to find a safe home for their babies. But it seems they can never agree on a place. When Mr. Mallard thinks a place is safe, Mrs. Mallard disagrees. You must read this story to find out if they ever find a safe place to raise their babies. Although this book doesn¿t have a lot of color in the pictures they are still very detailed. I think that children would really enjoy reading this book. This book would be appropriate for children ages 3-8. The author of this story, Robert McCloskey, was born in Ohio. He was inspired to write this story when he was on his way to school and passed by some ducks in the Boston Public Garden. He said that was the beginning point for this story. McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: The Viking Press, 1941.

Make Way for Ducklings

In this story a mother and father duck are looking for a home. They finally settled at a pond in a park called Public Gardens. They went to the park every day to get food. After they had their ducklings they could not go to the park because they had to cross a busy street. One day when they were watching traffic hoping for a break so they could cross, a police officer came and stopped traffic so they could cross. After that day the officer would stop traffic often to let them pass. This book was worthy of the Caldecott medal. The pictures are very detailed and well drawn. Even though they are drawn only in brown charcoal, they are magnificent. The attention to detail is excellent. I would love to share this book with my students in the future. McCloskey was born on Sept. 14, 1914. He has won two Caldecott awards. His book Make Way For Ducklings was named the official children¿s book of Mass. in 2003. A bronze statue of the mother duck and her ducklings was placed in the Public Gardens in that same year. McCloskey, Robert. Make Way For Ducklings. New York. The Viking Press, 1941. Reading Level 4.1

Let's go find the ducklings!!

This was my all-time favorite book as a child. Each time my parents took me to the Public Garden, we would walk the path Mrs. Mallard took to the duck pond and I would look for her ducklings. I too purchased this book for my children, when I was pregnant with the first, to start their library. This past summer, I took my kids along the same route as Mrs. Mallard's journey to the duck pond. My heart melted when I realized that my 4 year old daughter was looking around to find any signs that the ducklings were in route to the pond for a swim. Our first swan boat ride was that much more enjoyable, as we spend the entire ride trying to decide which ducks were the 'real' Mr. & Mrs. Mallard. I know this story will be a life long favorite for my kids as it has for me.