MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey

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McCloskey, Robert. 1941. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: The Viking Press. ISBN: 9780670451494

Make Way for Ducklings, the Robert McCloskey classic, is the timeless tale about parents moving to find a better life for their children—in this case, ducklings. Mr and Mrs Mallard fly to Boston to find a home most appropriate for the upbringing of their family. They had to rule out all the spots that were unsuitable, had unsavory neighbors, or unacceptable traffic. After scouting out places all around town the capable Mrs Mallard finally agreed to a quiet cozy spot to build her nest. As Mr Mallard concerned himself with procuring food, namely peanuts from the friendly policeman Michael, Mrs Mallard tended to her eight eggs protectively. When the big day arrived, the Mallards proudly named their hatchlings one by one—Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack! While father Mallard busied himself with exploring the rest of the river, mother duck ensured her ducklings learned how to survive. She taught them to swim and dive and walk in a line—however, what she hadn’t anticipated was how she would cross a busy highway with her young brood. This is where Michael comes to her rescue and stopped the oncoming speeding cars long enough for the family to pass. Anticipating trouble, the helpful policeman calls headquarters for backup. Meanwhile the proud mother duck waddles around town with her obedient little ducklings following behind, to the amazement of onlookers. Thanks to the police officers, mother and babies make it safely to the pond where father duck is waiting to show them the island which will be their new home.

The beauty of this picture book lies in its universal appeal and realistic drawings. Even though the story unfolds in the bustling city of Boston, it could easily have been a representation of Any Town, USA in the 1940’s. The motorcars give the only real clue to the time period depicted. McCloskey’s use of big brown-toned sketches gives the work a truly authentic and artistic feel. The ducks in particular are rendered so lifelike as if the author were really observing a family of ducks very closely. The New York Times declared the illustrations as “…fine large pictures, strongly drawn, with a wealth of detail.” Moreover, the story’s portrayal of loving caring parents sends a warm positive message to children about the importance of family without being moralistic.

It’s worth mentioning that this was my first time to ever read this classic story. I can’t imagine why I would not have been exposed to this book in my childhood. I found it to be a refreshing change of pace from the current trend of gimmicky picture book publishing. Make Way for Ducklings is a nostalgic piece of children’s literature that takes one back to a time when life was simple and intentions were pure, just like McCloskey’s writing. Interestingly, my 8-year old daughter read it recently as well. When I asked about her impression of the book, she was fascinated mostly by the helpfulness of the policemen. She was relieved that the ducks made it across the street without knowing how to fly. Further, she pointed out that the story reminded her of the fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling.

Make Way for Ducklings won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for McCloskey’s illustrations.

This picture storybook can be an excellent conversation starter in a preschool program about birds, ducks, or even city life. The accurate depiction of the ducklings’ natural habitat can be used to introduce preschoolers to many new vocabulary words such as hatch, molt, waded, and waddled.   

Books in Print. 2013. TWU Library. Accessed September 8, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125