Children's Author Highlight: Robert McCloskey

Photo Credit

Robert McCloskey is one of my childhood favorite children's authors.  I have fond memories of pouring over the illustrations in Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal with my mom and brothers.  While most children's books are full of colorful illustrations, McCloskey's beautifully intricate drawings are monochromatic (sketched in one color).  Not only did McCloskey use monochromatic sketching in his books, but also he used the world around him as the setting of his sketches/stories.  Many of his books are set in Maine, capturing the beauty of the coast and ocean.  The quality of McCloskey's work is validated by the number of times his books won either the Caldecott medal (annual award for best illustrations in a children's book) or was runner up for the Caldecott medal.

Illustration in the front cover of
Blueberries for Sal

Blueberries for Sal is a story about a mother and daughter (supposedly McCloskey's wife and daughter were the models for the illustrations) who go out blueberry picking.  On the other side of the hill a momma bear and cub are also eating blueberries.  In the course of events the bear cub and the little girl switch places and their mothers are quite surprised to discover they are being followed through the blueberry patches by the wrong offspring.

Make Way for Ducklings is set in the city of Boston.  The illustrations depict many of the old buildings in Boston that are still standing today.  The story is about how a mother and father duck choose to raise their little tribe of ducklings in the middle of the city of Boston.  My children are delighted by this clever story and really like the police officer that comes to the aid of the duck family trying to cross a busy city street.

Does this illustration not cause
you to want to read this book?

One more of our favorite McCloskey books is Homer Price.  This book makes a great read aloud to elementary aged kids (and older).  Homer Price is a collection of hilarious stories that we have laughed about together a few times.


This week's author highlight books to look for at the library include:

• Blueberries for Sal
• Make Way for Ducklings
• Homer Price

Disclaimer: Our recommendation of the books mentioned in this post is not a complete endorsement of the author, illustrator, or their other works.  Please use discernment in selecting books by any given author.

This is part 7 in the Children's Author Highlight Series.  Click here for more children's author recommendations.