Cover of Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings

by Robert McCloskey

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is assigned in US schools at grades k–3, with a Lexile measure of 730L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Make Way for Ducklings is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Lexile
730L
Grade range
Grades K–3
Age range
Ages 4–8
Pages
68
Reading time
about 1h 15m (est.)
First published
1941
Genre
Picture Book
ISBN-13
9780140564341
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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.

Why widely assigned

This Picture Book title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1940s; pairs with curriculum units on family and urban nature; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

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

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Make Way for Ducklings→ — matched on theme + reading level.

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.
How long does it take to read Make Way for Ducklings?
It takes about 1h 15m to read Make Way for Ducklings (68 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 75 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
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.

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
Tagged for: summer.