Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings
Front cover illustration with the Caldecott Medallion
AuthorRobert McCloskey
IllustratorRobert McCloskey
Cover artistRobert McCloskey
GenreChildren's literature
Published1941
PublisherThe Viking Press
Publication placeUnited States
ISBN9780670451494
OCLC192241

Make Way for Ducklings is an American children's picture book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey. First published in 1941 by the Viking Press, the book centers on a pair of mallards who raise their brood of ducklings on an island in the lagoon in the Boston Public Garden. It won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for McCloskey's illustrations, executed in charcoal then lithographed on zinc plates.[1][2] As of 2003, the book had sold over two million copies.[3] The book's popularity led to the construction of a statue by Nancy Schön in the Public Garden of the mother duck and her eight ducklings, which is a popular destination for children and adults alike. In 1991, Barbara Bush gave a duplicate of this sculpture to Raisa Gorbacheva as part of the START Treaty, and the work is displayed in Moscow's Novodevichy Park.[4][5]

The book is the official children's book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[6] Praise for the book is still high over 80 years since its first publication, mainly for the enhancing illustrations and effective pacing.[7] The book is popular worldwide.

  1. ^ McCloskey, Robert (1961) [1941]. Make Way For Ducklings (Hardback). New York: The Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-45149-5.
  2. ^ Anderson, Peter (April 27, 1991). "After a half-century, families still make way for ducklings". The Boston Globe. p. METRO/REGION 1. ProQuest 294591363.
  3. ^ Bancroft, Colette (July 6, 2003). "A master who made it look easy". St. Petersburg Times. ProQuest 263902472.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference WBUR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NPR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Chapter 2, Section 49". The General Laws of Massachusetts. Retrieved September 8, 2006.
  7. ^ Maselli, Christopher. "Keep'em Turning: Exploring the Power of Page Breaks in Picture Books" (PDF). truthpop.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2006.