Cover of Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings

by Robert McCloskey · Grades K–3 · Picture Book

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is assigned in US schools at grades k–3, with a Lexile measure of 730L. It appears on 2 lists: 1 state standards document and 1 book-award list, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 4–8 · Grades K–3 · Lexile 730L · 68 pages. Content notes: mild peril (traffic) (Common Sense Media: 3+). The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780140564341). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 1 state

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Caldecott Medal

This page shows where Make Way for Ducklings is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Lexile
730L
Grade range
Grades K–3See the list:K1st2nd3rd
Listed most for
1st grade (4 of 9 cited list rows)
Age range
Ages 4–8
Pages
68
Reading time
about 1h 15m (est.)
First published
1941
Genre
Picture Book
ISBN-13
9780140564341

Sources: Lexile from MetaMetrics as recorded in our catalog (method); grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-20; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade · What is the Caldecott Medal?

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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)
Award won
Named in curriculum frameworks
Catalog record
First published 1941 · 68 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Make Way for Ducklings→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This picture book title reads at middle-grade prose complexity and is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 1940s; pairs with curriculum units on family and urban nature; cited on 2 lists: 1 state standards document and 1 book-award list.

Themes

family · urban nature · community helpers · patience · Boston setting

Content notes

mild peril (traffic)

Common Sense Media recommends age 3+.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Make Way for Ducklings?
Make Way for Ducklings is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3, with a Lexile measure of 730L. It appears on 3 school reading lists across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What is the Lexile level of Make Way for Ducklings?
Make Way for Ducklings has a Lexile measure of 730L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read Make Way for Ducklings?
It takes about 1h 15m to read Make Way for Ducklings (68 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 75 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Make Way for Ducklings?
Make Way for Ducklings appears on reading lists for Caldecott Medal, Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Make Way for Ducklings banned in schools?
Make Way for Ducklings does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally. See the banned books list by state.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
730L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades K–3 — drawn from the curriculum sources cited on this page.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state's ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, summer.

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