Winner of the 1942 Caldecott Medal< span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Make way for an all time Classic. Although Robert McCloskey received the prized Caldecott Medal Award in 1942, MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS continues to stir up humor and empathy for the Boston's Mallard family.
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, determined parents, pick the Boston Public Garden as the perfect and safe environment to raise their imminent brood of ducklings. What joy when 8 ducklings enter into the world learning their way! As the little ones obediently follow Mother "in a line", the plan comes to a halt at the park's curb. "Honk!" go the speeding cars which overpower Mrs. Mallard's and ducklings' quacks. How will the family reach the Public Garden? Even in 1941, McCloskey knew the concept, "It takes a village to raise a child."
You are pulled into the story with its bold sepia brown lithographic illustrations and heartwarming text, each enhancing the other. Notice how observant McCloskey is of the ducks' habits and way of life in each drawing. Page after page demonstrate his careful and delightful studies, capturing the curious yet funny young ones. Added in the backgrounds are wonderful 1941 Boston sights. Was McCloskey making a conservation commentary when he drew a discarded bottle floating in the Charles River? Each line, dot or dash is deliberate to complete the whole picture. Each blank part of the page balances with the contrasting sepia brown and well placed text. The Mallard family will "waddle" into your heart. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS is a winner in every way!
Contributed by C. Wong, Children's Librarian, Maryland USA
72 pages 978-0670451494 Ages 3-6
Keywords: ducks, Caldecott Medal, police officer, community helper, classic, 3 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old
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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. This brilliantly illustrated, amusingly observed tale of Mallards on the move has won the hearts of generations of readers. Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children in 1941, it has since become a favorite of millions.---from the publisher
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See also: Mr. McCloskey's Marvelous Mallards: The Making of Make Way for Ducklings by Emma Bland Smith
