Making way for a children's book classic

 

“Ilived with them in my studio in New York. And of course if I were doing thatbook today . . .  I would have gone to wherethe wild ducks were and where I could study them - I would have gone to thecountry somewhere.” – Robert McCloskey
The “they” McCloskeyrefers to are several mallard ducks he purchased and took home in order tostudy their movements, sounds and actions. The result was one of the world's most well-known children's books,Make Way for Ducklings.
McCloskey, born on this date in 1914, wrote and illustrated many children’s books that remain as classics.  MakeWay was one of two to win the prestigious Caldecott Medal awarded in recognition of best-illustrated picturebook.   McCloskey also won for Time of Wonder becoming the first writer/artist to win more than once.   Three of hisother books, including the wonderful Blueberriesfor Sal, were finalists. 

MakeWay features a mallard pair that nests onan island in Boston’s Charles River.  After raising 8 ducklings, the mother leads them to the Public Garden indowntown Boston.  Famously, a friendlypoliceman stops traffic for them to cross a busy street. The beloved story hasbecome a Boston institution and "official" childen's book of Massachusetts.
In 1987, renownedsculptor Nancy Schön created a bronze version of Mrs. Mallard and theducklings, installing them near a downtown Boston park where thousands ofchildren climb them and many more people photograph them annually.  The park is also the site of an annual MakeWay for Ducklings Mother's Day parade, featuring hundreds of childrendressed in the costumes of their favorite characters.                              McCloskey, who died in 2003, said “I get a lot of letters, not only from children butfrom adults, too. Almost every week, every month, clippings come in from somepart of the world where ducks are crossing the street.”