Make Way for Ducklings

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Summary: Make Way for Ducklings
Review: Make Way For Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
The Viking Press

Imagine yourself as a mother duck, flying over Boston looking for a place to rest and lay your eggs, but you are very very particular about where you land. Considering that Boston is a busy place, would you want to raise a family there? This is what this story is all about. Make
Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is a Realistic Fiction and Fantasy book for young and old readers. It takes place in the air when Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a place to land. Mr. Mallard finds very nice spots but Mrs. Mallard is not satisfied. She says she doesn't want to raise a family  where there might be foxes in the woods or turtles in the pond. They fly on for awhile until they reach Boston. The Mallards are very tired and fly down for the night on a small island near the park. In the morning they hunt for food in the bottom of the river but don't have a lot of luck. Soon their luck turns good when a boat carrying a load of people has the people throw peanuts to them to fill their empty stomachs. Mr. Mallard and Mrs. Mallard decided that they would like to nest there, until a boy riding a bike zips by Mr. Mallard and almost runs him over. Now will the Mallards decide to stay or will they leave forever?

There are 3 main characters (or 11 counting all the ducklings) Mrs. Mallard, Mr. Mallard, their ducklings, and Michael the policeman. Mrs. Mallard is a mother duck, that thinks a lot about  her kids' future, which I think makes a great mother. She is very independent and proud
about things she accomplishes and does. She loves her family and her husband very much and hopes for a pleasant future. She also loves her human friend, Michael, who is loving to the Mallard family. Mr. Mallard is the father duck. He is a loving and caring dad who sometimes gets annoyed with his wife when it comes to finding new nesting ground. Mr. Mallard helps take care of the young with his wife but also likes to venture off to see the surrounding area. Michael, the policeman, is the family friend. Everyday they go and visit him for peanuts. Michael also does great deeds for them by helping them cross the street carefully. He loves his little family friends.

I recommend this book to all readers, because it is a short story and it will not take a long time out of your day to read it. It is a heartwarming book that you can imagine what is happening without looking at the illustrations. The illustrations are so detailed that you can understand the story without actually reading the words. You can actually go to Boston and see statues of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings walking to the pond at the public garden, which my family and I did this summer. I connected to the story when I saw the big swan boat carrying  people, just as the Mallards saw them, too. I think the boat and statues are cool. Anyone can enjoy this book because it's made for all ages!!  

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Summary: A McCloskey Classic
Review: Robert McCloskey's classic children's book, Make Way for Ducklings is just as delightful in the year 2002 as it was back when it was first published in 1941. The timeless story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their eight adorable ducklings is still a fun read for children and parents alike. The story begins as the prospective parents search for a new home suitable for raising their young ones. Mrs. Mallard is clearly the expert in this endeavor and Mr. Mallard is quite relieved when she finally settles on a spot that is not too dangerous or noisy for their young family. The couple make themselves quite at home on a little island in the Charles River of Boston, a quiet oasis within the busy city. Soon the ducklings hatch and Mrs. Mallard sets about teaching them all they need to know in order to live in the city. By now they have made good friends with some of their human neighbors, especially Michael, the policeman. When the family makes its first trip into the city, Michael calls for backup and literally stops traffic all along their path. The people the Mallards encounter are just as pleased to see the ducks as the Mallards are to be there. The reader leaves the family settling comfortably for the night after a day of happily following the Swan boats in the park and eating the peanunts tossed their way. The charm of this book lies in both the heartwarming story and th realistic but idyllic illustrations. McCloskey is quite gifted at portraying the natural world to children in a way that is authentic and familiar. Most children have seen duck families in a nearby pond and witnessed the way the ducklings learn about the world by waddling along after their parents. The sketched illustrations add to the natural feeling of the book. The depiction of the ducks is terrific because they are visually expressive but still look like ducks. Another engaging facet of the story is the positive interaction between animals and humans. The Mallards find a way to live comfortably within a city full of people and their human neighbors are welcoming and accommodating. Overall, this a warm and timeless book. It is just perfect for a parent and child to read together or for a teacher to read to a classroom of younger kids. This is a good selection for children aged 3 to 7.

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Summary: A charming classic
Review: What can I say that everyone else hasn't already? This is probably one of the finest children's books ever written. Its illustrations are richly detailed and vivid even in two-tone, and its story is adorable and wholesome. We're FROM Boston and we've recently moved away, and my little boy always thrills to recognize the Boston Gardens he remembers, but set in times past. The story is sneakily very educational, integrating in plain English information about the migration, mating and molting habits of ducks into an engaging and whimsical story about a mother duck taking care of her own. It also teaches about counting, nature observation, social studies (explaining the different jobs of a police officer) and alphabetization (The names of the ducklings will never fail to make your little one giggle.) We've had it for two years, and it remains one of my son's favorite bed time stories. Truly a classic that belongs in any child's library.