Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Book Genre: Realistic Fiction

Publisher Information: Puffin Books, 1976 ( 62 pages)
Awards: The Caldecott Medal

Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for that special place to have and raise their baby ducks. They fly quite a distance before finally deciding on the Public Gardens in Boston. They don't find much to eat there until a giant swan with people on float by and they begin to throw peanuts at the ducks. They love the peanuts and follow the giant swan all around the park. But when they get out of the pond, they are almost run over by a boy on a bike. This will never do for Mrs. Mallard, she needs a safer place for her babies. They flew over Beacon Hill, Louisburg Square, all over Boston until they see the Charles River with an island just perfect for their family. Mrs. Mallard takes care of her eight eggs until they hatch and then decide the chicks are old enough to live in the Public Gardens. Together all eight babies follow their mother to the edge of the river and then march single file to the Public Gardens. Unfortunately the babies can't fly so they must cross a major highway on foot. The cars don't even slow down for the mother and their babies until Officer Michael goes into the street and stops the cars to let the family cross. They make their way to Mr. Mallard, already waiting for them and the whole family settles into their new home.

Personal Rating And Reason: (**** Great) This book is special to me because a cousin from Boston gave it to me and after seeing the procession of ducks make their way through Boston, it is quite an unusual sight. For those not fortunate enough to see the ducklings in action, it is still a good story. Even the smallest of animals deserve their rights in our public domain.

Reading Level: 4.1
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

Possible uses of text in integrated units of study:

Geography: Where is Boston? What is the climate there? Do you think the harbor would make a difference in the city's economy? Good discussion questions for the class. Also, pictures of the coast line would make an interesting study of topography.

History: There are so many historical events associated with Boston that small groups could pick a topic of interest, research it, and present it to the class. Also, there are numerous historical figures for biographies to be presented to the class.

Theatre: Students could write or read a reader's theatre play in costume while enacting historical events.

Science: Students could study ducks, their habitat, and what kinds of ducks are indigenous to our area. Baby ducks could be hatched as part of the unit. Also, migration, a mystery to the common man, offers so many possibilities as to, who is the leader of the group, how do they know when and where to migrate? Has global warning affected migrating patterns? These are good discussion and study questions for the students.

Math: If Mrs. Mallard had 12 eggs, if 2 were brown and 4 were speckled, how many were solid white. What percentage is each amount? Using the eggs could be a good percentage prop.

Reading: Book lists of The Boston Tea Party, Benjamin Franklin's Many Inventions, Paul Revere and the Minute Men, are but a few of the many books that could be read in relation to Boston's history.

Writing: Writing Prompt: The most interesting person or thing about Boston in the 1700's is...

Music: Use a DVD to play the Boston Pops for music appreciation and performance.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: None