Happy 2024! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s January 2024 book review. Enjoy!
Happy 2024! Dr. Toughlove decided to start the new year by reviewing an oldie but goodie – “Make Way for Ducklings”, by Robert McCloskey. This timeless book was written in 1941, and Dr. Toughlove remembers reading it as a child and reading it aloud to her children and grandchildren. Robert McCloskey was a children’s book author and illustrator and a Caldecott Award winner.
While many of McCloskey’s books were set in Maine, “Make Way for Ducklings” takes place in Boston, Massachusetts. In this timeless and amusing book, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a suitable place to live. They stopped at the Public Garden and decided to spend the night there. While they weren’t sure if the Public Garden was the right place to build their nest, they did fall in love with an enormous bird (which was actually a passenger boat with a swan on it) and were even more enamored with the peanuts and other treats the passengers threw their way.
Once they settled upon a spot not too far from the Public Garden to make their nest, their baby ducklings were born. Dr. Toughlove doesn’t want to give too much of the story away, but there were eight ducklings and their names all rhymed. When the time was right, Mrs. Mallard took them on a journey to meet Mr. Mallard, who had already left for their new home. How did they get there? Well, it was quite a journey, but fortunately they had a little help from Policeman Michael and his associates.
There are so many themes in this book, which is one of the reasons that it has survived the test of time and continues to be loved by children (and adults who probably remember it from their youth) today. McCloskey’s illustrations depict the 1940’s and many of the landmarks found in the city of Boston. Whether you have been to Boston or not, the pictures are charming, expressive and open up the door for lots of wonderful observations and conversations.
“Make Way for Ducklings” is such an institution in Boston that there is a bronze statue of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings at the Public Garden, and “Make Way for Ducklings” is the official children’s book of Massachusetts.
“Make Way for Ducklings”, is appropriate for children aged 3 and up and is available at the Queen Anne’s County Library.