Dear Kid,

If you happened to have been alive in 1914 (you weren’t), and if you found yourself in Hamilton, Ohio, and if you happened to be paying attention, you might have noticed that there was a new baby. His name was Robert McCloskey and he grew up to write Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal.

Make Way for Ducklings DearKidLoveMom.comQuick! Name the ducklings.

“But wait,” I hear you say, “If he’s from Hamilton, what was he doing writing about ducks in Boston?”

Most excellent question. He went to art school there. And it’s where he met the Mallards. Interestingly, he bought some ducks to study before he illustrated the book.

“OK,” I hear you continue, “But then what about the other books he wrote? Blueberries for Sal is set in Maine! After all, there aren’t that many bears or blueberry hills in Boston!”

So true.

Robert spent much of his life living in Maine.

And we will always be grateful for his stories.

Love, Mom

P.S. The ducklings are Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. But you knew that.