A searchable database of books recommended by the CCBC.
More information about CCBC Choices book recommendations
Gertie: The Darling Duck of WWII
CCBC Review:
In April 1945, a duck laid eggs on a high piling in the Milwaukee River, near a drawbridge in the heart of the city’s downtown. Named Gertie by a local reporter for the Milwaukee Journal, her unusual choice of a nesting location captivated the city as her story spread. Crowds regularly gathered on the bridge above to watch her. Would the eggs hatch? Would her ducklings be safe so high above the river? The bridge tenders were determined to protect Gertie’s future ducklings, and it was a good thing they were: When a storm bore down on the small family after most of the eggs had hatched, the men rowed repeatedly into the choppy river to save the ducklings that fell in. Gertie and her babies were reunited and moved to the window of Gimbel’s department store for three days before being released in a local park lagoon. This winsome story features illustrations capturing the historical setting and the charm of Gertie and her family, while the moments of drama, and the scope and scale of interest in Gertie—around Milwaukee and far beyond—at a time when “the world was weary of war” also make for a fascinating tale. An excellent “More to the Story” essay, including photographs, tells more about Gertie’s fame and global reach. ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Renee Graef
Wisconsin illustrator
Renee Graef was born in Sheboygan, raised in Greendale, and graduated from UW-Madison. She currently lives in Los Angeles and Milwaukee.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
20th Century
Birds (Informational)
Community
Helpfulness
Survival
Publisher:
Sleeping Bear
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781534111714
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 598 Swanson