If you follow this blog at all you will notice a trend of making toys to go with books as presents for kids. I just find it is a great way to engage kids in retelling stories, making up their own stories, and getting more involved with books and story telling in general.
Make Way for Ducklings has long been a family favorite back to the days of Captain Kangaroo. There is a stature in Boston of the duck family and the story seems to have remained popular with families for a very long time. So it seemed a good choice for my October birthday package. Somehow I'd forgotten there were 8 ducklings. I was thinking 4, maybe 5 but no there are 8.
I found the pattern for the mallard and the ducklings in
Zoomigurumi 7
and it is actually the cover pattern for the book. When I saw the cover I realized this was my chance to go forward with my
Make Way for Ducklings 
book and amigurumi set.
Jack is the first Duck listed in the book and this is how I am keeping track of my progress. This is actually my second attempt at the duck however. This duck is made with the Red Heart sport yarn and a C hook. The first was made with worsted weight yarn and a D hook and was much too large when you realize there will be 8 of them not to mention Mom and Dad. I'm keeping the first one as an Easter decoration for my house. Mom is going to be a remake of Dad's pattern. I haven't worked it out yet, but I'll get there.
My hope to get double use out of these ducks is to make a darker one and swan and include
The Ugly Duckling 
as part of the package. Thus making the ducklings more useful in telling stories.
birthday present. With Kack and Jack finished it leaves me with just six more ducklings to hatch.
or the mother which I am planning on adapting from the mallard pattern. 
but I still have to decide on a color. More research. I have a couple of swan patterns I'm choosing between so we will have to see what happens as I get closer to making that project happen.
