Make Way for Ducklings (Caldecott Medal Winner)

by Robert McCloskey, Robert McCloskey (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A classic tracing all the way back to 1941, this is the story of a family of mallards making it through Boston safe and sound. With captivating illustrations to partner the text, it’s a family adventure for all to appreciate.

The busy Boston streets are too dangerous for eight little ducklings! But with a little help from a friendly policeman Mrs. Mallard and her family arrive safely at their new home. The public garden was no place for ducklings when they were first born, but now they are old enough to brave the raucous crowds and swim with the giant swan boats. Available for the first time in a full-size paperback edition, this Caldecott winning classic continues to delight generations of children

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798217042067
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	02/03/2026
Pages:	38
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Robert McCloskey (1914-2003) wrote and illustrated some of the most honored and enduring children's books ever published. He grew up in Hamilton, Ohio, and spent time in Boston, New York, and ultimately Maine, where he and his wife raised their two daughters.

The first ever two-time Caldecott Medal winner (for Make Way for Ducklings and Time of Wonder), McCloskey was also awarded Caldecott Honors for Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, and Journey Cake, Ho! by Ruth Sawyer. He was declared a Living Legend by the Library of Congress in 2000. You can see some of his best-loved characters immortalized as statues in Boston's Public Garden and Lentil Park in Hamilton, Ohio.

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
Set in the bustling city of Boston, Make Way for Ducklings first amazed audiences in 1941. Awarded the Caldecott Medal in the same year, this delightful picture book captures the humor and beauty of one special duckling family.

When Mr. and Mrs. Mallard need a proper home to raise a family, they scour all of Boston's prominent spots. However, from Beacon Hill to the State House to Louisburg Square, nothing seems quite right -- until they find a small island in the Charles River that is perfect. After settling in, they take a trip to the park, where they meet a very nice policemen who feds them peanuts.

Soon, Mrs. Mallard has laid her eggs. After keeping them warm and safe, she watches the ducklings hatch, healthy and happy. She teaches them to swim, dive, and walk in a neat line, one behind the other. When she takes her brood out for their first walk into the city streets, cars screech to a halt, and Mrs. Mallard quacks her way across. Luckily, her policeman friend calls for help, and the officers direct traffic to "make way" for the duckling clan.

McClosky's illustrations are brilliant and filled with humor. The details of the ducklings, along with the popular sights of Boston, come across wonderfully. The image of the entire family proudly walking in line is a classic. Revisit this timeless tale with this splendid 60th anniversary edition, which also features a commemorative author bookplate to celebrate the occasion. (Amy Barkat)

bn.com