Mr. McCloskey's Marvelous Mallards

By Emma Bland Smith, Becca Stadtlander (Illustrator)

An artist's apartment overflows with ducklings. Can he capture their charm before chaos reigns?

4.2/5 Goodreads · 242 ratings

40 pages

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In a cramped New York apartment, artist Robert McCloskey faces a quacking dilemma. With ducklings waddling through his home, he must capture their essence on paper before they outgrow his space. As feathers fly and chaos ensues, will he perfect his illustrations in time? Dive into this delightful tale of creativity and persistence, where the challenge of art meets the unpredictability of nature. Discover the whimsical journey behind a beloved children's classic, and see if McCloskey can turn his feathery chaos into a masterpiece.

From the publisher

This behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the classic and beloved picture book Make Way for Ducklings will captivate young artists, writers, readers, and animal lovers alike. While writing and illustrating the beloved picture book Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey brings a flock of ducklings into his tiny New York City apartment. But an artist + a bunch of ducklings in his apartment = chaos! There are ducklings in the bathtub and ducklings in the kitchen, quacking at dawn and sitting on his desk. Can he learn to draw them just right before they grow too big? This glimpse into the creation of a much-loved story for kids is a must-read for fans of children’s books, or for anyone who is interested in the creative process and the importance of persistence. “Emma Smith has done a bang-up job imagining how my father wrote Make Way for Ducklings. I enjoyed reading her book.” –Jane McCloskey, daughter of Robert McCloskey and author ofRobert McCloskey: A Private Life in Words and Pictures “A wonderfully rollicking rendition of the story behind the story.” –Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor-winning author of books for children and author of Robert McCloskey

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