Make Way for Ducklings

McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: Viking Press, 1941, 1969.

My first memory of this book is watching it on Captain Kangaroo. I was exposed to so much children’s literature through this early children’s television program. I enjoy sharing it with my “littles” each spring. I usually pair it with the Google Earth Field Trip which takes viewers to Boston and shows the route the Mallards followed.

In this classic picture book, author/illustrator Robert McCloskey takes children on a journey with Mr. and Mrs. Mallard as they seek the proper place to raise their coming children. The sketches are wonderful – I always make sure I tell the students how old the book was and let them know that brightly colored children’s books just were not available in the 1940’s. Make Way for Ducklings did receive the Caldecott Award for illustrations.

The Mallards happened to name their ducklings in alphabetical order. I created an alphabetizing activity using the duckling names. It give my kinder kids a little practice in ABC order – a skill which is necessary for finding books on the shelves and so many other things.

Make Way for Ducklings 75th Anniversary Edition is available from Amazon. Thanks for using my affiliate link which helps support this children’s literature blog.

What television program did you watch as a child that exposed you to children’s literature?