This is a favorite post from Easter many years ago.
Photo courtesy Universal Hub
Robert McCloskey’s classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, is immortalized in bronze statues in the Public Garden on Boston Common. Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack are all decked out and dressed in their fancy bonnets, ready for Easter.
This classic children’s book was written in 1941 and received the coveted Caldecott Medal in 1942. The story, based in Boston, is about two ducks, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, and their journey to find a proper home and start a family. After the ducklings hatch, there are adventures throughout the city and help from a friendly policeman named Michael.
Make Way for Ducklings has been continuously in print since it was first published. As of 2003, the book had sold over two million copies. The city of Boston has whole-heartedly embraced the story. In the Public Garden where the Mallards eventually settled, the bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings by artist Nancy Schön was erected in 1987 – a tribute to Robert McCloskey.
Happy Easter from the Bronze Ducklings at the Public Garden in Boston.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Lovely duck! Happy Easter Jennie.
Thanks, FR. Happy Easter!
🐣
I love these ducks and hope to see them myself one day!
I hope you get there, Darlene!
Oh my goodness…I hadn’t thought about “Make Way for Ducklings” for years. Thank you, Jennie! 💝
It is truly a classic, and to think the artist made the ducks to display in Boston where the story takes place. Best to you, Vicki!
I have seen these Jennie! Many years ago I visited my sister while she was working in New York. We took a 5 day trip to Boston… A lovely city 😊
Lucky you! They are decorated for big events, like the Red Sox winning the World Series in baseball. I love all the ‘old’ in Boston.
A beautiful city and now I know about the ducks 😄
Win-win! 😀
As I may have probably already written, I used to lead tours of children around Beacon Hill during which we would find some of the architectural details from illustrations in the book which still exist on various homes and storefronts. It is a wonderful story, and the statues certainly help to keep it alive in our hearts/minds. Happy Easter!
I didn’t know there was still architectural details on buildings. Very cool! Happy Easter, Will!
Yes! If I am remembering correctly there were (at that time) a storefront on Charles Street which retained some architectural features included in the wonderful illustrations of the Mallard family’s adventures and at least one private home whose facade/front door matched an illustration in the book… And, of course, the Public Garden is blessedly similar to what it looked like 80+ years ago!
That is so wonderful, Will. Robert McCloskey would be very proud and happy. I love how the ducks are decorated for holidays and special events. I didn’t know the Public Garden still looks the same. That’s so important.
It’s too wonderful not to re-post. Thanks, Jennie. Happy Easter. 🐰🐣🐇🐰
I feel the same way, Teagan! Many thanks and Happy Easter! 💕
Happy Easter, Jennie. Great story and post.
Same to you, John. Thank yoy!
😀
Another one of my favourites.
I’m so glad, Anneli!
It’s lovely to see this again, Jennie. Happy Easter to you and your family.
Best wishes, Pete.
Gee whiz.. this was one of my favorite books when I was growing up! Happy Easter to you and those who mean the most to you!
I’m so glad, Annette! It’s as good today as it was when you remember the book. Happy Easter!
oh, I so love this, thank you for posting this and Happy Easter!
I’m so glad you love this, Beth. We have both read this book a zillion times to our classes. I saw Robert McCloskey’s exhibit at the Eric Carle Museum, and it included miniature bronze ducklings that the artist had created. Happy Easter!
how cool!
😍
Happy Easter, Jennie. I love the ducks. I used to stay pretty close to that park, and I took a train from the stop near there. I always walked up to see them. Thanks for sharing the Easter version.
Awww… I didn’t know that. Thanks for letting me know, Dan. Big smiles here. Happy Easter.
Such a nice reflection on such a great story.
Thank you, Maggie.
₍ᐢ.̫.ᐢ₎ Happy Easter!
Thank you, Cindy! Happy Easter to you. 😍
Hi Jennie, thank you for a lovely post!
Thank you, Charles!
A delightful tribute to this book. Happy Easter, Jennie
Hi Robbie, I’m glad you enjoyed this. Happy Easter!
Happy Easter 🐣
🌼
Happy Easter to your and yours, Jennie. I saw the ducks when I was in Boston, but they weren’t decked out when I went in September that year. 😁
Hi Carla, Happy Easter to you. I think it has to be a special event for the ducks to be decked out. Hey, you got to see them, and that is very cool!
I read that book to my children and took them to the pond.
That is wonderful!
sounds like great fun; will see if I can get a copy of this book 🙂
It’s a classic!
Great story and wonderful post. Happy Easter, Jennie.
Thanks, Steve. Best to you.
I love this book. I had a similar experience some years back when a large herd of elk crossed the road. Traffic had to wait close to five minutes.
It’s such a great book! Elk? That had to be quite a scene.
What a lovely book and statues! Happy Easter, Jennie.
Thank you, Stevie.
I love those ducklings!
I’m so glad!
Those bronze ducks are fabulous! It’s a great book. I hope you had a lovely Easter, Jennie.
Yes, and yes! They are the best. Easter was cold and rainy here, which always makes me feel bad for the children doing Easter egg hunts.
Fabulous ducks! Happy Easter! xx
They really are! Best to you, Debby!
Maravilloso! Amo los patos.
Un gran abrazo! Un placer aeguirte
🥰