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. (Ages 4–8)

In 1945, the attention of the United States, along with the rest of the world, was focused on World War II. After more than five years of fighting, downcast, war-weary people were looking for signs of hope of a better future. One April morning, a duck searching for a nesting spot lands on a tall post sticking out of the Milwaukee River. Situated near a busy drawbridge and the noisy city of Milwaukee, this was an unlikely, precarious spot for a soon-to-be-mama duck to build her nest. But that is exactly where Gertie (named by a local reporter) decides to make her home and lay her eggs. Once local newspapers report the story, crowds begin visiting the bridge to watch Gertie and speculate how she will safely hatch her babies. Soon, news outlets around the world are carrying the hopeful tale of the plucky duck, raising spirits, and giving readers a shared sense of community.