Book Review: MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

McCloskey, Robert. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS. New York, NY: Viking Press, 1941.  ISBN 0140564349

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Two mallard ducks named Mr. and Mrs. Mallard set out on a quest to find a safe place to build a nest, lay and hatch eggs, and raise their ducklings. After overcoming a couple of obstacles on their search, they choose Boston’s Public Garden and become a part of Boston’s community with the special protection of Michael, a Boston policeman.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this nostalgia-producing tale, the reader joins Mr. and Mrs. Mallard’s quest to find a new home where they can safely raise their future ducklings. In the process of the quest, the reader enjoys a guided tour of historic Boston, Massachusetts, from a pre-stoplight era. The reader also gets a mini biology lesson on ducks: “... now they were beginning to molt. All their old wing feathers started to drop out...” The author cleverly names each of the ducklings a name that rhymes with “quack”. Though the story depicts a universal theme of parents’ quest to find a safe home and raise a healthy family, it also reflects a stereotype of the middle class culture of the 1940’s.

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS is deservedly a past Caldecott Medal winner for the outstanding artwork drawings depicting both Boston and nature. Each page contains a detailed work of art. Though the drawings are devoid of color, shy of the light brown sketching, the reader does not miss it. The simplicity of color only serves to draw attention to the fine detail of the sketches and the exquisite perspective drawings of the city of Boston.

Those who grew up loving the classic BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL and HOMER PRICE will smile at MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS and want to read it repeatedly to the next generation of children. Though this book does not reflect the true diversity of a large American city, the story is never the less worthy of praise. Finally, the more formal sentence structure and vocabulary are reflective of the era Robert McCloskey composed the story. People for generations to come will continue to enjoy this sweet tale.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Medal Honor, 1942

Barnes & Noble (bn.com):  “This delightful picture book captures the humor and beauty of one special duckling family.”

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE (1942): “Robert McCloskey’s unusual and stunning pictures will long be a delight for their fun as well as their spirit of peace.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

* Use this text to introduce a science unit about birds/ducks; create a class Venn diagram comparing and contrasting traits of Mallard ducks from the story with traits of Mallard ducks found in an encyclopedia

* Use this text as an introduction for a history/geography unit on Boston, Massachusetts

Additional children’s texts about Boston, Massachusetts:

Zschlock, Martha. JOURNEY AROUND BOSTON FROM A TO Z.  ISBN 9781889833194

Gamble, Adam. GOODNIGHT BOSTON. ISBN 9780975850244