Gertie, the Darling Duck of WWII
by Shari Swanson (Author) Renée Graef (Illustrator)
In 1945, the attention of the United States, along with the rest of the world, was focused on World War II. After more than five years of fighting, downcast, war-weary people were looking for signs of hope of a better future.
One April morning, a duck searching for a nesting spot lands on a tall post sticking out of the Milwaukee River. Situated near a busy drawbridge and the noisy city of Milwaukee, this was an unlikely, precarious spot for a soon-to-be-mama duck to build her nest. But that is exactly where Gertie (named by a local reporter) decides to make her home and lay her eggs.
Once local newspapers report the story, crowds begin visiting the bridge to watch Gertie and speculate how she will safely hatch her babies. Soon, news outlets around the world are carrying the hopeful tale of the plucky duck, raising spirits, and giving readers a shared sense of community.
Locate at a Library Near You WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Find books about:
Kirkus
Gertie’s heartwarming tale delights and distracts today as it did in 1945.
ALA/Booklist
Swanson’s writing is lively, and the duck family’s saga remains engaging, particularly within its historical context.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4--A true story of a city, World War II, and a duck family that created a moment of community and hope in dark times. In April, 1945, a duck nested on a piling high above the Milwaukee River. Her precarious perch was close enough to a bridge that it caught the attention of people passing nearby. Soon the duck was named Gertie, and newspaper reporters, searching for something hopeful in the midst of dark times, created a media sensation out of Gertie and her eggs that were laid high above the river. When the eggs hatched, the crowds and the media attention grew, and Gertie's story spread around the world to American soldiers far from home. Harrowing moments are captured in the text, and nostalgic illustrations with a sepia-toned quality create endearing characters out of the ducks and the people who worked hard to keep their hopeful story alive. Gertie's tale ends happily; back matter expands on the tale as well as the role of children and the home front during WWII. VERDICT A delightful historical tale that will encourage young people to find similar "good news" stories in their world today. Recommended.--John Scott
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
JNF003210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Ducks, Geese, Etc.
JNF070000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Inspirational & Personal Growth
History
United States
20th century
Wisconsin
Mallard
Milwaukee
Gertie
Milwaukee (Wis)
