April 2 is National Children's Book Day. As an adult, my favorite picture book is Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings (1941). I have no idea why--maybe it's the illustrations or the unusal fact that the author, also the illustrator, kept ducks in his bathtub while he worked on the illustrations in order to make them more realistic. Or perhaps it's the story itself that engages me.
The book is set in the Boston Public Park. A few years ago I read that there were bronze replicas of the ducks-- Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack -- in the park.
I knew I had to see them.
But I live in Florida, which is quite a ways from Boston. So it took some planning and saving. My husband and I flew to the airport in NJ, rented a car and drove to Boston. We jumped aboard the on and off tour bus so we could see a bit of the city as well as get off at the park stop.
Once at the park, we had to find the bronze ducks. No one was around them or even paying attention to them, so I almost missed them. But once Rick and I started taking a multitude of pictures with them (after all we had come quite a ways to see them) people starting coming over to find out the signifance of ducks. I explained to them about McCloskey's book and soon everyone had to have their picture with the ducks, so I'm glad we'd already taken plenty.
I also like McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal (1948), One Morning in Maine (1952), and Time of Wonder (1957). Perhaps there will be another trip in my future!
What is your favorite picture book or who is your favorite children's author? Comment below.