Make Way for Ducklings

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for the ideal spot in which to raise a family in this delightful picture-book, which won Robert McCloskey the prestigious Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in 1942. Flying over Boston, they alight on the pond in the Public Garden, only to decide that this is not the place for raising babies when they are almost run over by a young bicyclist on one of the park paths. Moving on to a small island in the Charles River, they raise their brood of ducklings, intending to return to the Public Garden with them at a later date. But when Mrs. Mallard eventually does begin to escort her ducklings from the river to the park she encounters an unexpected obstacle, in the form of human traffic. How will they get to their show more destination with so many cars and trucks whizzing by? Fortunately the ducks' friend, Policeman Michael, is nearby, and comes to the natural conclusion: the people of Boston will simply have to make way...

A perennial favorite since the time it was first published, Make Way for Ducklings pairs a charming tale of an anatine family trying to make a home for themselves in a human-dominated landscape, with lovely black and white artwork that perfectly captures their sweet journey of discovery. Although I did not discover McCloskey's classic as a young child - how I wish that I had, as I would have taken its troupe of fluffy little ducklings entirely to heart - I'm glad I finally had a chance to read it, as part of my Caldecott project. The story is sweetly engaging, with an appealing cast of water-fowl - what is it about these ducklings, that they always seem to be in danger?!? - and has a happy ending that will leave young readers feeling content. The artwork, which was well worthy of the accolades it won, provides quite a bit of viewing pleasure, with its depiction of the Mallard family, and of the city of Boston. It's easy to see why this has become such a picture-book classic! show less

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for the perfect place to start a family, and settle on an island in the Charles River in Boston. After hatching 8 eggs, Mrs. Mallard walks her ducklings down the street to Boston Common.

The set-up here really doesn’t hold up. The Mallards reject the river because it has too many turtles (a real threat to eggs and small ducklings), then reject the Commons because there are too many bikes (maybe a threat to ducklings, but not a threat to eggs and much less of a threat than cars), then go back to the river to lay eggs, then walk the ducklings through traffic to the Commons (just because Mr. Mallard will meet them there, not for any particular reason). Mallards are known for their poor choice of nesting show more places, and for walking their ducklings through traffic to get to the water, but trying to insert anthropomorphic logic doesn’t work, and they already lived in the river!

But….it’s just so cute! You can’t help but love the beautiful brown line drawings and the ducklings’ silly names. I hadn’t seen this book in 30 years but every page has been etched in my brain the whole time, and I think of it every time I see a mother duck and ducklings walking down an urban street (which is fairly often, another reason why this book just works.) show less

Robert McCloskey’s Caldecott Medal-winning book, Make Way for Ducklings, is a charming tale about a family of ducks who migrate to Boston to settle down. Over the course of the book, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard befriend a local policeman, lay eggs, and raise their ducklings on a quiet island in the Charles River. The concepts of family and home are explored thoughtfully (and succinctly) over the course of the book, and the actions of the Boston town-folk show that it does truly take a village to raise a child (or, in this case, ducklings).

While the story of Make Way for Ducklings might be a bit simple, McCloskey’s illustrations are truly impressive in their attention to detail: his drawings beautifully capture the spirit of the scenic show more Boston area and the personalities of his very realistic-looking family of ducks. That being said, the book does seem a little dated when placed alongside Dr. Seuss and Sesame Street on a child’s bookshelf; however, the simple majesty of Make Way for Ducklings might very well continue to stand the test of time (as it has done for the last seventy years).

Citation:
McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: Viking, 1941. Print. show less

One of my favorite books as a child, “Make Way for Ducklings” is still an enduring favorite. The book is the winner of the 1942 Caldecott Medal. It is understandable why the book won such a prestigious award. Robert McCloskey's illustrations were first drawn in charcoal pencil and then lithographed, creating a soft, brown hue. The illustrations are very vivid, capturing the daily life of both humans and animals. When I visited Boston during a family vacation, I was overjoyed to finally ride the swan boats depicted in the story. The composition of the story also adds fantastic detail. The characters of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are enthralling, as they search for a place for their family to call home. McCloskey's setting of an urban show more Boston city scape is another reason why “Make Way for Ducklings is such a fantastic story. Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings keep waddling along the busy Boston streets, oblivious of the danger that surrounds them. It is hard to imagine what would have happened to the ducklings if the policeman hadn't stopped traffic so the ducks could reach the Charles River. The big idea of the story is this classic story is that kindness can go a long way. show less

How did I get to be 64 years old without ever having read this Caldecott-winning classic? It’s a reminder that you don’t need full-color illustrations or gimmicks for a book to be amazing. This picture book on the plight of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard seeking a home for their babies in Boston has delighted young and old alike since its release in 1941; it’s easy to see why. Lovely illustrations and a compelling story make Make Way for Ducklings as wonderful today as ever.

We rode the swan boats in Boston last weekend. All the while, I was thinking of this book and of E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan.

Then today we were killing time in the book store while I had some work done on the car, and I found (and bought) a lovely hardcover edition of Make Way for Ducklings. My husband is reading it to the kids as I type. I read it to my daughter several years ago, and we both enjoyed it (as we did s0 many other of McCloskey's books, especially Blueberries for Sal). It makes the story even better having seen so recently the sights depicted in the book. My kids are thrilled.

Aside from the names of the ducklings (Ouack?), I enjoy this book quite a lot. The writing is a pleasure, the story is a classic, and the show more illustrations are fabulous. show less

I adored everything about this book. I think it must be the cutest book I have ever read. The story, the sweet ducklings, the kind-hearted policeman... And especially the illustrations of the ducks, which are so expressive. What a treasure! I am so happy that I came across it through LT!