Massachusetts State Children's Book

"Make Way for Ducklings"

Adopted On January 1, 2003

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey was designated the official children's book of the Commonwealth on January 1, 2003. The third grade class at the Dean S. Luce Elementary School in Canton sponsored the legislation.

Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arrive safely at their new home.

This brilliantly illustrated, amusingly observed tale of Mallards on the move has won the hearts of generations of readers.

Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children in 1941, it has since become a favorite of millions.

Massachusetts State Children's Book:
Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey. First published in 1941, the book tells the story of a pair of mallards who decide to raise their family on an island in the lagoon in Boston Public Garden, a park in the center of Boston.

Make Way for Ducklings won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for McCloskey's illustrations, executed in charcoal then lithographed on zinc plates. As of 2003, the book had sold over two million copies. The book's popularity led to the construction of a statue by Nancy Schön in the Public Garden of the mother duck and her eight ducklings, which is a popular destination for children and adults alike. In 1991, Barbara Bush gave a duplicate of this sculpture to Raisa Gorbachev as part of the START Treaty, and the work is displayed in Moscow's Novodevichy Park.

The book is the official children's book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Praise for the book is still high over 70 years since its first publication, mainly for the enhancing illustrations and effective pacing. It was criticized for having a loose plot, however, as well as poor characterization. The book is extremely popular worldwide.

The names of the ducklings mentioned in the story are: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack.

Massachusetts Law

The law designating the book "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey as the official Massachusetts state children's book is found in the General Laws of Massachusetts, Part 1, Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 49

PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

TITLE I JURISDICTION AND EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, THE GENERAL COURT, STATUTES AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

CHAPTER 2 ARMS, GREAT SEAL AND OTHER EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Section 49 Children's book of commonwealth

Section 49. The book "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey shall be the official children's book of the commonwealth.