This week, the Five Minutes for Books ladies are hosting a festival about your favorite Caldecott winners. One of my favorites is Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (the 1942 award winner). Actually, I like pretty much anything by Robert McCloskey. J
Make Way for Ducklings is the story of the Mallard family as they search for a new home. Mrs. Mallard is looking for JUST the right spot to build her nest and after several stops, they settle on a small island where they lay their eggs.
Mr. McCloskey writes simple stories. And with those stories are simple drawings. I think that is why I am so attracted to his books. The pictures are simple and full of detail. Not that have anything against books that are recent publications, I sometimes find their illustrations are so busy that it is easy for little eyes to overlook the detail that can done with just a pencil or charcoal and paper.
Robert McCloskey has written several other wonderful books for children: Lentil, Blueberries for Sal (a Caldecott honor book), and Homer Price (which was my introduction to him as a grade school student). He always was the illustrator of the Henry Reed books which were some of my all-time favorites and I am still on the lookout to complete my set of that series!
Just a note: I posted a review a few months ago of one of my daughter's favorite books, The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. This book won the Caldecott in 1943, the year after Make Way for Ducklings. I thought that earned it a link. J
I discovered McCloskey's books this summer. I'd love to add them all to our collection sometime. I'd also like to go to Boston (only an hour from me) and follow the ducks' path and read the book there. There are even some statues of the ducks in a park.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of his books. I'm finding out that my knowledge of Caldecott winners is very small.
ReplyDeleteI knew I had seen that book before-I saw it on Stephanie's blog! Like Alyce, I'm realizing how little I know about Caldecott as well.
ReplyDeleteYay! Someone "did" Make Way for the Ducklings! This is the only Caldecott book I actually own. I grew up with it and I look forward to sharing it with my son.
ReplyDeleteGood pick!
Great post.
I remember Blueberries for Sal! And now that I see the picture of this one it seems familiar too... my son loves his Elmo book where Elmo says "make way for Elmo and his duckies" so this might be a perfect next step!
ReplyDeleteI love Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal. Thanks for bringing them back to mind!
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