Make Way for Ducklings is a 1941 storybook by Robert McCloskey.
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are searching for a suitable place to raise their young. After scouting several locations around the city of Boston (starting with the Public Garden Lagoon), and finding fault with each place they come across, they finally settle on an island in the Charles River.
Before long, the pair hatch eight ducklings. Mr. Mallard heads upriver to get the lay of the land, while his mate teaches their brood how to swim, dive, march in formation, and avoid predators and human vehicles. Later on, she decides to lead them to the Public Garden — only to find that the motorists won't stop for her. Fortunately, a friendly police officer helps to re-direct the traffic, enabling safe passage for Mrs. Mallard and the ducklings. Finally, the family reaches the garden, where Mr. Mallard is waiting for them. They decide to make Boston Public Garden their permanent home.
Named the official state children's book of Massachusetts in 2003.
Make Way for Ducklings provides examples of:
- Children in Tow: Mrs. Mallard teaches her eight ducklings to march in single file behind her. They all waddle down a busy city street (namely Charles Street in Boston) this way.
- Happily Married: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard clearly share a strong bond with one another. Carries over into Artistic License – Biology, as real mallards pick new partners each breeding season.
- Loose Tooth Episode: The plot of the sequel, One Morning in Maine, revolves around Sal's loose tooth, including learning about animals that do and do not have baby teeth.
- No Antagonist: The only real conflicts in the story are Mr. and Mrs. Mallard finding the right place to nest, and Mrs. Mallard trying to get her brood across the street safely.
- Real-Place Background: About half of the illustrations are detailed two-page spreads of locations in Boston. The Public Garden and the Charles River in the vicinity of the Longfellow Bridge feature most often, but there are also duck's-eye views of the State House and Louisburg Square.
- Rhyme Theme Naming: The ducklings are named Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouacknote , Pack, and Quack.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Mallards produce some of the cutest babies in the bird world, and McCloskey captures the ducklings in all their adorable glory in his illustrations.
- Species Surname: The lead ducks are simply called Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.
- Swan Boats: The ducks follow the swan boats in the Public Garden and eat peanuts tossed into the water by their passengers.
- Talking Animal: Downplayed. The reader can understand what Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are saying, but it's unlikely that the human characters around them can.
