Make Way, Adventure...

One of our favourite classic books is Robert McCloskey's Make Way For Ducklings. I recommend this 1942 Caldecott Medal book for any child's library. Making the words in that book come to real life for my daughter has been an incredibly memorable experience that I will cherish for always. I now share with you a few moments of solace from our "Make Way For Ducklings" adventure.

Accompanied by her two cousins, my daughter curiously followed me single file through the streets of downtown Boston not knowing where we were headed. They were sooooo wired with anxious anticipation I decided to create a game: Let's see how many birds we can find around us. In the back of my head I wondered if they would figure out where we were going...after all, that's a BIG clue (at least for me it is).

My daughter found a duck doorstop on the stoop of someone's brownstone.




















We went inside a Tibetian shoppe. We admired the artistic talents and peered at this runner noticing that every sequin was sewn on by hand.

"That's hard work" my daughter exclaimed. "But isn't it beautiful?".

Yes baby, it is.




















Captivated by the beautiful culture represented in the goods sold in this basement store, I came upon this chandelier.




















My daughter's cousin J pointed out this little birdie.




















J's older brother found a painted duck in a storefront window.




















Within a few minutes, we arrived at the Boston Public Gardens. You all would be so proud of me because I found it on foot by myself sans my trusted Garmin. We made our way to the equally famous Swan Boats rides which just happened to be in the same pond Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings returned that faithful Spring.


















We spent even more time enjoying life in the Boston Public Gardens before it was time to go.


















But we had one more stop to make. And there they were, the historic bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard and her eight little ducklings.




















And I left the gardens with three children walking single file quacking like ducks.





















What was really cool about this trip is that some one stole one of the bronze ducklings, Pack, a few weeks back. The story was all over the local news. Fortunately, the statue was recently recovered and put back in the second-to-last spot behind its mother. It was also our first time visiting the famous landmark after Pack had been reunited with Mrs. Mallard and its brothers and sisters. Can you imagine how scared poor little Pack was during the time he was missing?

*Go ahead. Get your own book. (wink) Click here.
*To review a complete list of Caldecott Medal books from 1938 to present, click here.
*For more information on the Swan Boats, please visit http://www.swanboats.com/.