Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings

"In the beginning, a duck is an egg./ A drawing is a blank page./ A sculpture is a lump of clay." This dual picture book biography pairs the story of Robert McCloskey (1914-2003) and Make Way for Ducklings with the tale of sculptor Nancy Schön (b. 1928), whose duck figurines in Boston's Public Garden commemorate McCloskey's work. The two artists' early years are recounted in parallel: McCloskey plays harmonica and carves in Hamilton, Ohio, while Schön roller-skates through the halls of her Newton, Mass., home and "learns to look--and think-- in three dimensions." McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings is eventually published and finds success, but Schön struggles to find artistic direction--until she hears a child in the Public Garden ask, "Where are the ducks?" Burke Kunkel (Digging for Words) renders a genuinely suspenseful and touching account of Schön delicately approaching McCloskey with the idea of memorializing his book's characters. Handsome, vintage-style artwork by Keane (Little Wonder) recalls the warm sepia tones of McCloskey's drawings and the brass of the sculptures; coupled with the story of both parties' persistence, the pages feel like a natural extension of the original tale. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Liza Fleissig, Liza Royce Agency. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Apr.)

Gr 1-4—This is the true-life story of Robert McCloskey of Make Way For Ducklings and Nancy Schön's subsequent creation of bronze duck sculptures that honors both artists' path while explaining the fame of their webbed creations. Young McCloskey and Schön's stories are told alternately to show how each individual interacted with their worlds as children and found their way to their own artistry. As the tales unfold, both are faced with doubts and roadblocks that threaten their beliefs in their own talents. It is near the end of this story that Schön and McCloskey work together; the back matter of the book provides additional information that explains the popularity of the ducklings at the heart of the story. At times the switches between narratives aren't smooth, but the connections are aided by the illustrations and imagery. As a nod to the original picture book, Keane uses sepia tones contrasted with digitally rendered "crayon" with an emphasis on the expressive faces of every character and animal. The addition of more vibrant colors, such as bright blue, gives this retelling a very modern feel. Use this with the original book, perhaps with older audiences who will follow the dual narrative and the transitions. VERDICT A visually appealing and well-researched addition to biographical narratives, for use with the original Make Way for Ducklings or with the recent picture book biography Mr. McCloskey's Marvelous Mallards by Emma Bland Smith.—Danielle Schwessinger