Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
- Lexile
- 730L
- Grade range
- Grades K–3
- Age range
- Ages 4–8
- Pages
- 68
- First published
- 1941
- Genre
- Picture Book
- ISBN-13
- 9780140564341
Where to find this book
About this book
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for a home for their ducklings in 1940s Boston. McCloskey's 1942 Caldecott Medal winner is one of the most-cited classroom picture books for teaching setting and sequence and was named the Massachusetts state children's book in 2003.
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
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· Kindergarten gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B K picture book exemplar (Caldecott Medal 1942)
- recommended· 1st gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B grade 1 picture book exemplar
- required· 1st grade · Massachusettssource: MA Curriculum Frameworks — state children's book (designated 2003)
Similar grade-level books
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. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- 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.
- What curricula assign Make Way for Ducklings?
- Make Way for Ducklings appears on reading lists for 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.
- What themes does Make Way for Ducklings explore?
- Central themes in Make Way for Ducklings include family, urban nature, community helpers, patience, Boston setting. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
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 state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.