Make Way for Ducklings

                         

                              Image courtesy of Penguin Random House
 Bibliography

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

Plot Summary

In searching for a new home, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard settle in Boston at the river where their ducklings are born. Mr. Mallard decides to explore the city park. When the family makes the trip to the park to join him, they encounter problems with the city traffic. Assisted by the police, the ducks safely arrive and are reunited with Mr. Mallard. There they remain living happily in the park. Most importantly, we are subtly shown that it is important to respect and help everyone no matter their stature as the ducks receive the generous support of police and the patience of city dwellers.

Critical Analysis

Personification of the ducks gives way to lively character development. Mrs. Mallard is picky as most people are when home shopping. Mr. Mallard is agreeable which seems to date the book in a certain idyllic portrayal of father figures which was common for the time period. However, this is a minor detail I notice and doesn’t affect the plot.

The sepia drawings are greatly detailed but lack color.  I would venture to say kids today rather choose a book with color illustrations. The book illustrates life in Boston when most were dressed in suits and dresses, headed to office jobs or pushing baby in a pram, further dating the book. While the lack of color is a deterrent, the great details illustrated make up for it. In fact, I love the expression on the police officer’s face. He takes his job seriously, but he’s stunned by the impetuous Mrs. Mallard who is not about to let all the cars in New York City dictate her plans.

I would read this with kids for the story and the exposure to city life. In fact many who live near or travel to Boston enjoy reading this book and visiting the sites, even finding the ducks as statues. However, beware the differences between modern picture books and this one are stark in color media. I think kids will look beyond the color issue as long as an enthusiasm for the story and city is ensued by adult readers.

Review Excerpts

2012 SLJ’s Top 100 Picture Books #6

1942 Caldecott Medal

From Best Children’s Books: “Uncharacteristic of today's picture books, he sets Make Way for Ducklings in a real place. Boston, Massachusetts is a star of this book almost as much as Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. You can take your kids to look for the Mallard Family!”

From The Horn Book Magazine’s Arnold McCully: “The masterly, unshowy illustrations carry the narrative and characterizations and establish a particular time and place that becomes universal.”

From The Horn Book Magazine’s Paul O. Zelinsky: “…it made me think I knew Boston like the back of my wing, and that I was a duck.”

Connections

Use it as an introduction to a social studies unit on communities.

Feature in a unit on big cities, and read The Little House, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans, and Little Elliot, Big City.

·       Burton, Virginia Lee. The Little House. ISBN 9780547131047

·       Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline. ISBN 9780140564396

·       Curato, Mike. Little Elliot, Big City. ISBN 9780805098259

Read it along with Merle the High Flying Squirrel and The Lorax to introduce a unit on environmentalism. This book shows that all living things must coexist, and students can be taught considerate decision making by discussing the character’s point of view.

·       Peet, Bill. Merle the High Flying Squirrel ISBN 9780395349236

·       Seuss, Dr. The Lorax. ISBN 9780394823379

First, read Town Mouse Country Mouse to introduce comparison and contrast of urban and rural areas. Allow children to choose books depicting urban and rural life to conduct their own research.

·       Brett, Jan. Town Mouse and Country Mouse. ISBN 0399226222