Make Way for Ducklings [Bargain Price] [Library Binding]

Robert McCloskey (Author)

Product Details

• Library Binding: 65 pages
• Publisher: Viking Press (January 1, 1941)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670451495
• ASIN: B0007D9VJG
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS ONE HAS TO GO ON YOUR MUST HAVE LIST., January 22, 2011

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Make Way For Ducklings (Paperback)

There are a number of books in our cannon of children's literature that should be read to or by every child. This is one of those books.

I recently purchased another consignment of mixed books and while digging through my almost sight unseen purchase, I came across this old friend and it rang bells instantly! I was able to trip back through time to earlier days, delightful days, and relive this wonderful little story. Long story short...I remember this one from when I was a wee kid.

Robert McCloskey won the Caldecott Medal for this one and there are reasons for it. He both created the text and the illustrations here and has blended them perfectly... more about that later. It was first published around 1941 and has gone through several publications since that date. The last one I am aware of is this 1969 one being featured here, but there quite well may be newer ones about.

Basically this is the story of two ducks and their adventure of raising a family in Boston, MA. The stories was developed by McCloskey after watching ducks near and about Boston Commons wend their way through traffic, both mechanized and foot.

Anyway, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard come to the great city of Boston in search of a place to raise their family. After many adventures and encounters with bicycles, cars, people and other rather intimidating city "things" they settle on the Public Gardens where they start raising their children, fuzzy little Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Quack and Pack. Mr. Mallard, a sort of adventuresome and wayward duck goes off exploring and Mrs. Mallard must move the ducklings to another location to meet up with Mr. Mallard at a later date. Their engaging journey through city streets and with the help of local authorities and good citizens comprise the rest of the story.

There are some important aspects of this book that need to be noted:

First, there is little anthropomorphizing here. The ducks actually act like ducks throughout the entire story. That does not make them any less endearing tough; no, it anything, it makes them more so. Who on earth is not charmed by a determined mom-duck or little ducklings?

Second; as pointed out by other reviewers here, there are actually 44 sounds in our (English) language, and this work incorporates all 44 in the text. This is rather amazing! This fact alone makes this work invaluable as a beginning reader.

Third; My goodness, there is the art work. The author has used chalk drawings, using a brownish tint, that would at first seem subdued, especially if compared with much of the work being done today, but subdued it is not. It has a very "old timie" look to it which is absolutely delightful to the eye.

Forth; I must echo the warning of another reviewer here. Many of these older books (the one I have here is one of the originals), are in rather sorry shape and I must warn you that many of these old books have a mold problem. This is dangerous stuff folks and if you purchase a copy and find the slightest hint of musty smell, get it out of the house! This mold is extremely dangerous for adults and it can be devastating for children.

If you can get a nice clean copy; something that should not to too difficult to do, then this is most certainly one that you will want to provide your young reader.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for Young Children, November 4, 2009

By 

A. Soriano (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Make Way for Ducklings (Library Binding)

Aside from the beautiful art and endearing story, this book makes a great addition to any beginning reader's library simply for its use as a fun learning tool. There are forty-four sounds in the English language, and all forty-four of those sounds can be found in this book. The same can be said about Goodnight Moon. Be sure to give that book your attention, too!

November 9-13 is National Young Readers Week!

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, with such a heartwarming touch, October 1, 2011

By 

EcoDesigner (Traveler) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Make Way For Ducklings (Paperback)

This book is a classic: cute story, very cute/animated illustrations, and a topic that's perfect for children and very heartwarming.