As soon as artist Robert McCloskey saw the ducks in Boston Public Garden, he knew he had to write about them. But how? Studying stuffed birds didn’t help.

Would inviting some into his apartment work? What? Was he quack-ers?

For months ducklings slept on his sofa and swam in his bathtub, making incredible messes. Quack! Quack! His roommate was not amused and his neighbors complained, but Robert did not give up. As the ducklings grew, he got down on his hands and knees and followed them with pad
and pencil. At times he even acted like a duck! Through revision, after revision, after revision, Robert improved the art and story, until he and his editor were finally satisfied. Join Emma Bland Smith in her tribute to an amazing artist and his inspiring marvelous mallards!