Make Way for Ducklings

Written by Robert McCloskey

Narrated by Owen Jordan

In this timeless tale of family life, Mr. & Mrs. Mallard find the perfect spot to raise their young in Boston's Public Garden.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Weston Woods
• Release date: Jan 1, 1955
• ISBN: 9780545258265

Reviews for Make Way for Ducklings

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite books when I was a child, I still love it.

[eecnelsen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book when teaching a class about ducks. It shows how hard it is to find the right nest. How the city can hinder their reproduction and safty. Review: This is a great book!!

[kelly.jefferson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Make way for Ducklings is a really cute book about Mallards that are searching for their home to have baby ducklings as well as have plenty of food and shelter. The Mrs. Mallard had a hard time deciding but eventually found a place and had her 8 little babies and she taught them everything they needed to know. I think the meaning of this book is how the mama duck took care of her babies and kept them safe while traveling through the city. I think this would be a great book to read to children about safety and cars and how to listen. Classroom extensions I would possibly do is counting to add up to the number of family members she has. Also to talk about the different feathers that the ducks have for the seasons. Another classroom extension would be to go on a field trip and visit a duck pond so the kids could feed the ducks and see first hand how they live.

[dangerlibearian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly a classic, but a bit long for storytime.

[nmiller22-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arrive safely at their new home.

[awalls4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In my opinion this book is a classic. It is well known by many readers and has become famous through receiving The Caldecott award. The main idea of the story is about family and finding a stable living environment. I think the reasons I liked the book is one because of the setting. Boston is a well know city with a wide range of history. The book discusses certain streets, such as Charles street, and places, such as, Beacon Hill, in Boston. I think this enhances the story by giving the reader an idea of what is surrounding the ducks. The second reason I liked the book is because of the theme. I think in an abstract way it has the reader think about family and how having a safe environment is important. I think it also demonstrates that parents take many things into consideration to guarantee the safety of their children.

[readerspeak_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This Caldecott Award winning book tells a tale about Mr. and Mrs. Mallard trying to find a suitable home for their little ducklings. A friendly police officer helps the family traverse the dangerous Boston streets. Simple but rich drawings add much depth to the story.

[lynny_nicole · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Make Ways for Duckling is about a husband and wife duck couple that is looking for the perfect place to call home and to raise a family of ducklings. They fly from place to place in search of the right place to lay their eggs. Once the ducklings were old enough and trained they set off to look for the place to spend forever with.I thought it was a good book but I think it would be better to read it to a first grade class or a kindergarten class. My son, who is 3, was not able to stay interested. I liked the pictures, however, I am more of a colored picture kinda of person. Though I do think the pictures got the point across and added to the story beautifully.I would have the class draw pictures of what their idea place would be to live if they were a duck. I would also have them write a one page story about the place they call home and what makes them classify that as home.

[mahallett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

not crazy about animals who talk and have human feelings,liked the drawings.the 20th century children's book treasury

[btivis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Make Way for Ducklings is a beautiful, heart-warming story. It tells of duck parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, finding a place to raise their ducklings. They find a place to live on an in the river, but as they get older, Mrs. Mallard begins to lead them through the streets of Boston. Not only is this a lovely story, but the pictures are spectacular. There is no question as to why it won the Caldecott Medal.This is one of my favorite children's books. I have it in my personal library and can't imagine it not being part of a child's early literature experience.I think this could be used in the classroom as a science lesson about ducks and how they raise their ducklings. Mostly, I would just use it to read aloud and expose the students to good, quality literature.

[kbrash1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book very much, as it is near and dear to my heart. It was read to me often as a child, and I have fond memories of listening to (and pretending to read) the story. McCloskey tells the story of a pair of ducks that struggle to find a place to raise a family in bustling Boston. The way the story is written is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the book, in my opinion. For example, first published in 1941, “Make Way for Ducklings” delivers an uplifting story in a classic style of writing. As Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings walk down the busy streets of Boston to meet Mr. Mallard, “Everyone stared. An old lady from Beacon Hill said: ‘Isn’t it amazing!’ and the man who swept across the streets said: ‘Well, now, ain’t that nice!’ and when Mrs. Mallard heard them she was so proud she tipped her nose in the air and walked along with an extra swing in her waddle.” The illustrations, too, are very appealing. Robert McCloskey has created a series of highly detailed pencil sketches that are drawn in a sepia tone, which adds to the antiquated feel of the story. The big idea of this sweet, classic tale is the challenges a family faces making their way in the world, and the kindness they receive from strangers.

[imperfectcj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 illustrations are fabulous.

[readalouddenver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This classic book is a special book to read aloud to kids who will love counting the little ducklings and following the story to make sure they arrive safely to the Public Garden. This book helps build up vocabulary with words like mallard, flapped, polite, proud, delighted, waddled, dither, hatched, responsibility, opposite and promised.

[jill.haner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved "Blueberries for Sal" growing up, so the pictures were refreshing. I enjoyed the attention to detail in the art work. This book the color scheme is brown, the color of mallards, very much like "Blueberries for Sal" was a blue color scheme. I think its a great idea, gives a feeling of the book being the duck's world. I also enjoyed how the ducks seem to understand us well, but we do not seem to understand them. The know it all and picky Mrs. Mallard is fun to read. The lady at Powell had a great idea, she said her mother used the books to remind her family to stay just behind her like ducklings. I think that is a great plan for a school room as well. I can picture telling kindergarteners or first graders to follow along down the hall like ducklings.

[johnika · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Make Room for Ducklings is a soothing picture book told of a family of ducks. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard (mother duck and father duck) are on the hunt for a safe home to raise their eight ducklings. After flying around and around in search for the perfect home, they land on a pond in a public garden to rest. When they awake the next morning, they are given peanuts by the locals passing by on a boat. It was during that moment that Mrs. Mallard falls in love with the public garden, and decides the pond is suitable for raising their family.Recommended for children aged 3 to 8.This book is a great way to help little children understand a parent’s perspective on finding a place to raise a family. It is perfect for a teacher to read to a classroom, or a parent to read-out-loud to their small child. Another book that was written in the same decade: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

[Savannah Frost · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My 8 year old loves this book. She listened to. 8 books this day and just went on about how sweet and funny this book was. She has requested to hear it 10 more times.

[david9z · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite picturebooks as a child, Make Way for Ducklings stands the test of time and still pleases children today. McCloskey's illustrations were made with charcoal & then lithographed onto zinc plates, creating soft edges. The illustrations are very expressive, capturing both people and animals in a variety of poses and actions Those with memories of Boston will enjoy familiar views including Beacon Hill, Louisburg Square, and the Charles River. This story of a loving, protective mother provides listeners and readers with reasurring pleasure and bits of excitement. For ages 5 to 8, and anyone who loves ducks.

[stharp_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is an excellent example of a realistic fiction. Even though the ducks have conversation, they only have it with themselves and the author cleverly translates it into readable english. The setting where the story takes place is in an American city, which I believe is MA. As the ducklings make their way across the city, they go through places like the park and the city streets, which prove to be relentless obstacles at times.

[mbackes10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read aloud book!

[tburfe1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is so sweet! I loved the intense but dull illustrations that aided the loving story with its depth. Mom and Dad duck try to find the perfect place to have a family, and the reader thinks about how much effort their parents put in for them. The plot has a little conflict when the mom duck has to bring the ducklings to where their dad is. The writing is simplistic, but really lovely, and the language is easy to understand.

[laene_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Make Way for Ducklings juxtaposes the whimsy of pencil drawings with the hustle and bustle of the city as mama and papa duck search for a place to call home, befriending police officers and children to create a traditionally picturesque scene inside a less traditionally picturesque setting. It is the winner of the 1942 Caldecott Medal.

[jpmccasland · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, two young ducks in search of a good place to raise a family. Upon finding Boston with its parks and willing people to feed them, the Mallard family settles down. After learning how to survive around bicycles and anything else with wheels and where to find peanuts they settle down in the Charles River. Eight ducklings later, Mr. Mallard goes off to explore. Mrs. Mallard shows herself to be a competent mother. Once the young ones are ready, the mom and babies embark on an adventure to meet the father in the park. Traffic becomes a problem until the entire community becomes involved. This book has been a favorite for generations of beginning readers. I have read this book many, many times as a young person and even today this masterpiece resonates deeply within me. The combination of drawing and artistic use of words, along with real locations make this book attractive to young and old alike. The illustrations are carefully rendered with attention to detail, each duckling is imbued with its own personality. The story moves rapidly and has a happy ending that is completely satisfying. I believe this story would be useful in class to teach about wildlife, especially ducks. This book also would be useful to help with phonics, the ducklings names could let the class brainstorm about other rhyming words. This story would also be a good time to relate how to be safe in traffic, watching both ways before crossing the street.

[crunchymunchkin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story is deeply engaging, and the accompanying illustrations add to the comic appeal as dismayed passengers and drivers are made to halt in their busy lives and make way for these ducklings. McCloskey captures the personalities and behaviors of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard perfectly.This book could be used as an introduction to habitats and lends itself very well to illustrate the difference between animals in the wild and those that live in a city or a domestic setting.

[farfromkansas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[ashdawn21 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a family of ducks trying to find the perfect home to raise a family. When they finally find that perfect place they have to learn to adjust to city life and all the hazards that come with living there.As a little girl I used to love reading this book with my mom, so when I found it I had to read it again. I love the way the pictures are drawn, you really can't find that kind of drawing in any other books anymore.The way I might use this in the classroom is by allowing my students to make their own story using animals who like to make there homes' among people, and what dangers those animals might come into contact with.

[linyarai · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic, this adorable book should be on everyone's shelf!

[athomp2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a cute story of a duck family's journey as they search for the perfect place to raise a family. The illustrations are black and white, but help tell the story and make it believable. I like the repetition in the book of using the names of the ducklings over and over again.

[mderob1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book with the main idea of a birds’ life. The story is so cute and happy kids would really enjoy it. The story is very straightforward and has very detailed illustrations. The Mallards are searching for the perfect home in Boston to raise a family. It also provides facts about Mallard birds while still being fun. “ After Mrs. Mallard had laid eight eggs in the nest she couldn’t go visit Michael any more, because she had to sit on the eggs to keep them warm.” The story ends with the birds walking through the city streets and finally finding the perfect place to live. Kids would find the story funny and entertaining.

[dianevogan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic.

[melynnreadmond · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In my opinion this picture book is very informative for students as well as has very detailed illustrations. I would recommend this to other readers, as it was a good read. The information about how Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for a nest and eventually raise their ducklings helps readers learn about how ducks create families. Having this in a class library could help spark an interest in ducks and other waterfowl. The detailed illustrations helped to describe what was occurring in the picture book and created a detailed way to move the story along. Each page brings new meaning to what Mrs. Mallard was doing when helping her ducklings grow up as well as moving them to the public garden. The story is about two ducks looking for a place to raise their ducklings. The two ducks test out two places in Boston before settling a little outside the city to start the family before moving inside the cities public garden when the ducklings were older. The big idea about this story is that family is important. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard tested many places before eventually settling in Boston. They also cared about making a safe travel to the public garden, with the help of local police.