Rating: 
Summary: A delightful children's story. . .
Review: . . .which is equally well illustrated.Any homeschooling parent needs to be aware of Robert McCloskey and his wonderful stories, ranging from books like this one (perfect for reading to your preschool aged child) to some of his young reader titles. In this story, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, looking for a place to nest and raise their young, choose downtown Boston, much to the delight of a policeman -- but much to the chaos of city traffic! The charming text and the wonderful drawings of this Caldecott Medal book will delight the very young -- and first and second graders will enjoy being able to read the story all by themselves. Five enthusiastic stars!
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Favorite!!!
Review: A heartwarming story of a mallard family raising their ducklings in Boston Gardens. The illustrations are beautiful and bring life to the mallards and the cheery policeman who stops all the traffic to let the ducks cross. It was a favorite of mine growing up...I still have the original book my mom bought me when I was 5. Every kid should read this book!!
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Summary: Two ducks take over a park in Boston!
Review: A short book (usually printed in an oversized format) for little children about two ducks who look for a place to nest in Boston. The illustrations are delightful and children love it. This book won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a book for children. I enthusiastically recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Quack quack waddle waddle, quack quack waddle waddle
Review: A tip of the hat, one and all, to Mr. Robert McCloskey. The father of the delicately shaded picture book, his stories always contain simple plots and a bundle of warmth. "Make Way For Ducklings" (which battles with "Blueberries For Sal" for the title Best-Known-McCloskey-Story) is one of the author's strongest efforts. Bringing elements of rural and urban life together, it not only tells a great tale but remains timeless in its telling. The story follows Mr. & Mrs. Mallard, a realistically portrayed duck couple. No animals in funny clothes here. The two settle on a small metropolitan island to lay their eggs. Once hatched it's up to Mrs. Mallard and her troop to walk to their new home in the central park with the help of their local police force. In the sixty some odd years since its publication, "Make Way For Ducklings" has remained exactly the same. The closest it comes to dating itself (aside from the stately cars and "lending library") is that Mr. Mallard abandons his family to fly ahead to the save island. That's one way of looking at it. Another way is to point out that Mrs. Mallard is a capable mother who knows exactly how to lead her small brood. The book is fun, diverting, and illustrated beautifully. It does not pretend to be anything it isn't. It is the classic above all other classics. And it is McCloskey's greatest invention.
Rating:
Summary: Quack quack waddle waddle, quack quack waddle waddle
Review: A tip of the hat, one and all, to Mr. Robert McCloskey. The father of the delicately shaded picture book, his stories always contain simple plots and a bundle of warmth. "Make Way For Ducklings" (which battles with "Blueberries For Sal" for the title Best-Known-McCloskey-Story) is one of the author's strongest efforts. Bringing elements of rural and urban life together, it not only tells a great tale but remains timeless in its telling. The story follows Mr. & Mrs. Mallard, a realistically portrayed duck couple. No animals in funny clothes here. The two settle on a small metropolitan island to lay their eggs. Once hatched it's up to Mrs. Mallard and her troop to walk to their new home in the central park with the help of their local police force. In the sixty some odd years since its publication, "Make Way For Ducklings" has remained exactly the same. The closest it comes to dating itself (aside from the stately cars and "lending library") is that Mr. Mallard abandons his family to fly ahead to the save island. That's one way of looking at it. Another way is to point out that Mrs. Mallard is a capable mother who knows exactly how to lead her small brood. The book is fun, diverting, and illustrated beautifully. It does not pretend to be anything it isn't. It is the classic above all other classics. And it is McCloskey's greatest invention.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful Story
Review: A very delightful story with magnificent illustrations. I believe that children as well as adults of all ages will enjoy reading about Mrs.Mallard and how she finds the perfect home for her family.
Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Story for All Ages!
Review: Children naturally are interested in understanding a parent's perspective on the family. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard's search for a safe home for their future family makes a wonderful story for children and parents to explore and understand more about parental love. Although the book has a 4-8 age reading level, younger children enjoy having it read to them (based on the experiences of my four children). The illustrations are terrific and draw the child's interest very easily. Older children like to reread the story because of its comfortable connection to their more youthful years and reinforcement of their sense of being wanted, loved, and belonging. To me, the best part of the book is that the locations are actually easy to find in Boston. So if you live in the Boston area or ever come here, you can also take your children to experience the story. I know my younger daughter thought that her first Swan boat ride in the Public Garden was the ultimate moment in her life (up to that point). She kept wanting to know which duck was Mrs. Mallard, and which one was Mr. Mallard. Then she wanted to spot Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack (my favorite name in the book), Pack, and Quack. I had a ball! There are also statues of Mrs. Mallard and her 8 offspring that the children can touch. There's also an annual parade that you can participate in. If you don't know the story, here's a summary: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were looking for a place to live where they could raise a family safely. Whenever Mr. Mallard found someplace he liked, Mrs. Mallard worried about foxes and turtles. Finally they got to the pond in the Public Garden in Boston, and were too tired to go on. So they spent the night on the little island there. The next morning they could not find much food, until the people on the Swan boats began to throw them peanuts. But the Mallards were almost run over by a bicycle, so they felt they needed a safer place. They tried several, but each had a drawback. Finally, they found an island in the Charles River not far from the Public Garden that met all their requirements. Michael, the policeman, fed them peanuts. Soon, Mrs. Mallard laid 8 eggs, and stayed to hatch them. After the ducklings were born, they learned to swim and walk single file behind their Mother. One day, she walked them towards the Public Garden. But they could not get across the highway. Michael spotted them and stopped the traffic so they could cross. He called Clancy at the station and told him to send a car to help Mrs. Mallard and the ducklings cross at the Public Garden. When in the pond there, they met Mr. Mallard on the little island. They decided to live there, and followed the Swan boats for peanuts after that. I have enjoyed reading this story and reading it to children for almost 30 years. I look forward to reading it to my grandchildren when the time comes. It has also been my favorite book to give as a gift to new parents. Enjoy the wonderful gift of warm family feeling in this book, and leave your stalled thinking about your cares and worries behind. It will remind you what is really important in your life!
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Summary: A classic that today's kids still really love
Review: Classics get to be that way for a reason, because they are great books! My sons just love this book, as I did as a child. The wonderful story of how Mr. and Mrs. Mallard found a home is really fun to read. I also like it that this book is set in the city---it's hard to find good picture books for city dwelling kids. Many kid's book seem to assume that everyone lives in idealized suburbia. My older son loves the names of the ducklings---kids getting close to reading seem to love to play with rhymes, and it's fun to say Jack, Kack, Lack and on up to Quack! I wish you happy reading of this one!
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Summary: Fun and Educational
Review: Go on, buy it! "Make Way For Ducklings" falls on the list of those "you'll never regret it" book purchases.
This treat for the eyes and ears, with beautifully drawn pictures and a carefully worded storyline, will bring your child into the Mallard family as they trek dangerously across town. The names of each duckling are alliterative and rhythmic. Reading this aloud will bring chuckles with the silly "Ouack and Lack and Kack..." all those "quack" rhymes. Not only will the book be fun to read and reread, but it will teach a child language skills, particularly those relating to poetry. Even though it is not a poem, because it so well-written, it has those poetic qualities. When I visited Boston as an adult, I saw how familiar the town was only because I read "Make Way For Ducklings" as a child. The memories of this book are solid 30 years later, just as they will be for your son, daughter or younger relatives. I fully recommend it. Anthony Trendl
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Summary: a Mid-Century, children's book classic
Review: I am 45-years old and have been a voracious and intense reader all of my life (i yellow-line every book that i have read). I am a Industrial Designer who works for a Research and Development company and i spend my hours behind the computer doing AutoCAD. After so many years, i reread "Make Way for the Ducklings". Growing up in a positive household were the emphasis was place on reading, my earliest memories has been the books of Robert McCloskey. I can remember in Grammar school, i tried to draw like McCloskey. I would often spend my time daydreaming and imagine what it could be like flying in mid-air. "Make Way for The Ducklings" shows an example of a two-parent environment. The way McCloskey describes Boston during the end of the depression and just prior to World War Two,is within itself something to drink in. The fresh drawings of the automobiles moving in traffic, done in a rich conte crayon is what drew me to this book as a child originally and influence me as a designer. To be able to read in simplistic terms the responsibilities of Father and Mother Ducks who were in search for a better place to raise their ducklings reminds me of my very own Father and Mother.
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