Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is a childhood favorite. The day I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I started looking for a copy of this book. For those who like to know these things, it’s a Caldecott Medal winner.
Mother and Father Mallard are seeking a place to build their nest and rear their ducklings. They first consider the lake in Boston Public Gardens, but Mother fears that the traffic in the gardens would make it too dangerous. So off they fly to find a new place, certain that they will return to the gardens when the babies are old enough.
They finally settle on a small island in the Charles River, and, in due course, their babies arrive. After several weeks, Mother leads them across the river and through town to the Gardens, with some exciting and interesting adventures along the way. They make lots of friends, including Michael the Policeman, who makes sure that they get safely to their destination..
This is a beautifully illustrated book that will captivate even very young children. It’s perfect for reading aloud, and will be a good book for the early intermediate reader. McCloskey is a wonderful author, and has written a number of books at this level and also at the 9- to 12- year-old level; all of them are worth reading, and I will review some of his other titles in later posts.