Robert McCloskey facts for kids

Robert McCloskey (born September 15, 1914 – died June 30, 2003) was a famous American writer and illustrator. He created many wonderful children's books. He wrote and drew pictures for nine picture books.

McCloskey won two Caldecott Medals for his amazing illustrations. These awards are given for the best-illustrated picture book each year. Four of his books were set in Maine: Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, Time of Wonder, and Burt Dow, Deep-water Man. His most famous book is Make Way for Ducklings, which takes place in Boston. He also wrote and illustrated Homer Price. Plus, he drew pictures for the Henry Reed series by Keith Robertson.

Robert McCloskey's Life

Robert McCloskey was born in Hamilton, Ohio. This happened on September 15, 1914. His parents were Howard and Mabel McCloskey. He had two sisters named Melba and Dorothy.

In 1932, he moved to Boston. He had a scholarship to study art there. He attended the Vesper George Art School. Later, he went to New York City to study at the National Academy of Design.

Family Life

In 1940, Robert McCloskey married Peggy Durand. Peggy was the daughter of Ruth Sawyer, who was also a children's writer. They had two daughters, Sally and Jane. The family lived in New York State.

They spent their summers on Scott Island. This is a small island near Little Deer Isle. It is located in East Penobscot Bay. McCloskey's wife and older daughter Sally inspired characters in his book Blueberries for Sal. They are the models for little Sal and her mother. This book is set on a "Blueberry Hill" nearby. Three other picture books he wrote are about the coast and the sea.

Peggy McCloskey passed away in 1991. Robert McCloskey died twelve years later. He passed away on June 30, 2003, in Deer Isle, Maine.

Awards and Fame

Robert McCloskey won his first Caldecott Medal in 1942. This was for his book Make Way for Ducklings. The story is set in Boston, Massachusetts. It is about a pair of mallard ducks. They make a nest on an island in the Charles River.

After their ducklings hatch, the mother duck leads them to the Boston Public Garden. A kind policeman stops traffic to help them cross a busy street. This story quickly became a beloved part of Boston.

Make Way for Ducklings Statues

A sculptor named Nancy Schön created a bronze statue in 1987. It shows Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings. The statue is in the Boston Public Garden. Thousands of children climb on them every year. Many people also take pictures with them.

The park also hosts a Make Way for Ducklings Mother's Day parade. Hundreds of children dress up as their favorite characters. Since 2003, Make Way for Ducklings is the official children's book of Massachusetts.

More Awards

McCloskey won a second Caldecott Medal in 1958. This award was for his book Time of Wonder. He was also a runner-up for the award several times. He was a runner-up in 1949 for Blueberries for Sal. He was also a runner-up in 1953 for One Morning in Maine. In 1954, he was a runner-up for JourneyCake, Ho!. His mother-in-law, Ruth Sawyer, wrote that book.

A fellow award-winning artist, Marc Simont, praised McCloskey in 1958. He said McCloskey's talent for creating things was only topped by his ability to make Caldecott Medal-winning books.

International Recognition

His Homer Price stories were translated into Russian. This happened in the 1970s. They became very popular in the Soviet Union.

In 2000, the U.S. Library of Congress honored McCloskey. They named him a "Living Legend."

Books on Screen

Some of Robert McCloskey's stories were made into films. One chapter from Homer Price was adapted. It became a short film called The Doughnuts in 1963. The same chapter was also used for an ABC Weekend Special. This episode was called "Homer and the Wacky Doughnut Machine" in 1977. Another chapter, "The Case of the Cosmic Comic," also became a short film.

In 1964, a film producer named Morton Schindel made a documentary. It was called Robert McCloskey. This 18-minute documentary is sometimes shown in art schools. It features McCloskey in the Boston Public Garden. He shares his experiences that inspired his work. He also talks about how craftsmanship and inspiration work together.

Art Inspired by Books

Many sculptures have been made based on Robert McCloskey's books.

In the Boston Public Garden, there is a famous sculpture. It shows a family of nine ducks. This sculpture, by Nancy Schön, was put there in 1987. It celebrates McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings book. A similar version of this sculpture was also placed in Moscow in 1991.

In Hamilton, Ohio, McCloskey's hometown, another sculpture by Nancy Schön was installed in 2002. It shows a boy and a dog from his first book, Lentil. McCloskey named the boy Lentil. The dog was named Harmony after a competition among schoolchildren.

In Boothbay Harbor, Maine, there is another sculpture. It is in the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. This sculpture, called Sal's Bear, was dedicated in 2010. It shows a baby bear and a spilled pail of blueberries. This artwork is based on the drawings in McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal.

Robert McCloskey's Books

Written and Illustrated by McCloskey

• Lentil (1940)
• Make Way for Ducklings (1941) – Won the Caldecott Medal
• Homer Price (1943)
• Blueberries for Sal (1948) – A Caldecott Honor Award book
• Centerburg Tales: More Adventures of Homer Price (1951)
• One Morning in Maine (1952) – A Caldecott Honor Award book
• Time of Wonder (1957) – Won the Caldecott Medal
• Burt Dow, Deep-water Man (1963)

Illustrated by McCloskey (Written by Others)

• Yankee Doodle's Cousins (1941) by Anne Malcolmson
• Tree Toad: Adventures of the Kid Brother (1942) by Bob Davis
• Young America's English Book One (1942) by Helen Fern Daringer
• The Man Who Lost His Head (1942) by Claire Huchet Bishop
• Trigger John's Son (1949) by Tom Robinson
• Journey Cake, Ho (1953) by Ruth Sawyer – A Caldecott Honor Book
• Junket: The Dog Who Liked Everything "Just So" (1955) by Anne H. White
• Henry Reed, Inc. (1958) by Keith Robertson
• Henry Reed's Journey (1963) by Robertson
• Henry Reed's Babysitting Service (1966) by Robertson
• Henry Reed's Big Show (1970) by Robertson