Make Way for Ducklings By: Robert McCloskey

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard (ducks) were looking for a place to live. Mrs. Mallard did not want to raise a family where there would be foxes and turtles. So they flew on.They stopped in Boston to rest in a pond with a nice island. Mr. Mallard thought it was nice. The next morning they looked for food in the mud at the bottom of the pond but they didn’t find much. They saw an enormous bird pushing a boat full of people.  Mr. Mallard politely quaked “good morning” but the proud bird did not reply-people threw peanuts at them so they followed them around the pond. Mrs. Mallard like the pond and wanted to raise their ducklings there. Then Mrs. Mallard was almost run over by a bike and she changed her mind about raiding their ducklings there. They flew around and found nothing. They flew over the Charles River and found an island. They found a cozy place for their nest. They shed their feathers and could not fly anymore but could still swim. They met an officer, Michael who gave them peanuts. Mrs. Mallard laid eight eggs-Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Wack, Pack, and Quack. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were happy. Mr. Mallard wanted to take a trip to explore. He said he would meet Mrs. A week later in the park. Mrs. Mallard taught the ducklings to swim and walk and dive. When she was satisfied with her teaching she instructed them to follow her. She tried to cross the road but cars were honking and speeding by. All the ducks quaked. Michael came over running and stopped traffic for the ducklings. He called headquarters and told the officers the ducks were running around. They walked all through town. When the ducks came to the corner of Beacon Street, an officer was waiting to stop traffic to let the ducklings cross.They walked right into the public garden. When they reached the pond and swam to the island there was Mr. Mallard waiting for them. The ducklings loved the island and it was their new home.