Caldecott Medal Winner

Make Way for Ducklings

by Robert McCloskey

Summary

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for the perfect place to raise their family and settle on an island in the Boston Public Garden, where the ducklings hatch and must learn to follow their mother. When the family parades through the city streets, a kindly policeman named Michael stops traffic so the ducklings can cross safely to the pond. Robert McCloskey drew the ducks in warm sepia tones, studying live ducklings to capture their waddle and personality with affection and humor.

Historical Context & Significance

Bronze sculptures of the mother duck and her ducklings have stood in the Boston Public Garden since 1987, honoring the book's enduring popularity.