Winnie’s Winners!!

Wow, what a wonderful response to my post yesterday about rubber duckies! I loved reading everyone’s responses. I threw all the names in a cyber hat and pulled out the following:

Bridgette Shippy
Laura Michelle Delgado
Mary Garback

Congratulations! You’ve won the book of your choice from my backlist (you can find a list here: https://winniegriggs.com/booklist.html ) as well as a cute little rubber duck.  Just send me a note with the book title and your mailing info and I’ll get it right on out to you.

Happy National Rubber Ducky Day!

 

Hello everyone – Winnie Griggs here. As you can guess from the subject line, today is National Rubber Ducky Day. I always love it when I check my National Observance Day Calendar and find something fun like this. Especially when it falls on my blog day .  Because now I get to indulge my curiosity about the whys and wherefores and chalk it all up to legitimate research. 🙂

A Brief History of the Rubber Ducky

Back in the mid-1800s, when manufacturers first discovered how to mold vulcanized rubber, the earliest “rubber ducks” weren’t really ducks at all—they were more like chew toys. They didn’t float, and their designs were pretty simple. But as rubber toys became more popular, people started experimenting with new shapes and ideas.

The earliest patent for a rubber duck toy was issued In 1928 to Landon Smart Lawrence. His design weighted the floatable toy so that when it tipped over, it quickly returned to an upright position.

Fast forward to the 1940s, when sculptor Peter Ganine created and patented a floating toy duck. His design was more naturalistic, resembling an actual duck rather than the stylized, cartoonish version we’re used to today. Ganine’s ducks became quite popular, with over 50 million sold.

The transition to the iconic yellow rubber duck with a bright orange bill that we recognize today occurred around the same period. By the 1940s, rubber ducks had developed into this familiar form, becoming a staple in households and bath time routines.

Of course, the real turning point for rubber duck fame came in 1970, when Ernie from Sesame Street sang the now-iconic “Rubber Duckie” song. If you’ve ever seen Ernie and his beloved duck, you know how catchy it is. That song made rubber ducks a cultural icon and sent sales soaring. (you can listen to it HERE)

And today Rubber duckies are more than just bath toys. They’ve become collectibles, art pieces, and even globetrotters (but more on that in the trivia section!). Whether they’re in classic yellow or dressed as superheroes, rubber duckies continue to bring joy to people of all ages.

Why Ducks?

One thing I wondered about was why rubber ducks, of all animals, became the quintessential bath toy? While I couldn’t find a definitive answer, there was some speculation that gave several possible reasons for the choice:

  1. A Natural Connection to Water
    Ducks are water-loving creatures, often seen gliding across ponds or lakes. This strong association with water makes them an intuitive and playful choice for bath time compared to land-based animals.
  2. Simple and Recognizable Shape
    With their rounded bodies, flat beaks, and webbed feet, ducks have a shape that’s easy to mold into a toy. Their form is also simple enough for children to recognize and engage with, making them a perfect candidate for a fun and playful design.
  3. Bright and Cheerful Appeal
    The bright yellow color of traditional rubber ducks exudes warmth and happiness—qualities that resonate strongly with children and parents alike. Plus, ducks are naturally endearing, and their friendly image adds to their universal charm.
  4. Practical Design for Manufacturing
    When early rubber toys were being created, ducks likely stood out as a practical option. Their simple shape was easy to sculpt and mass-produce, especially as floating toys became more popular in the mid-20th century.

Whatever the reason, the cheerful rubber duck has obviously stood the test of time, becoming an enduring symbol of bath time fun and childhood nostalgia.

Today rubber duckies are beloved worldwide, with countless variations, from superhero ducks to historical figure ducks!

Quacky Fun Facts and Stats About Rubber Duckies

Here’s a list of trivia and statistics to celebrate this playful day:

  • A chart-topper: Ernie’s “Rubber Duckie” song from Sesame Street was so popular it reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970. You can listen to it HERE
  • Rubber ducks have traveled the world! In 1992, 28,000 rubber ducks accidentally fell off a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean. They’ve since been tracked by oceanographers to study ocean currents, traveling as far as Alaska, Scotland and even Australia.
  • Royal Approval: In 2001, it was rumored that Queen Elizabeth II had a rubber duck in her bathroom that wore an inflatable crown. This quirky detail reportedly caused rubber duck sales in the UK to soar by 80% for a short period.
  • Hall of Fame: In 2013 the rubber ducky was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame.
  • Giant Duck Tours: The world’s largest rubber duck, known as “Mama Duck,” stands at 61 feet tall and weighs 15 tons. This colossal duck was created in 2014 and has toured various locations, bringing joy to spectators across the globe.
  • Largest collection: The world’s largest collection of rubber ducks belongs to Charlotte Lee from the United States, with over 9,000 unique ducks as of 2023.
  • Global love: Over 1 million rubber ducks are sold annually, making them one of the most popular toys of all time.
  • Record-breaking duck race: Rubber ducky races are held around the world. Usually thousands of numbered ducks are dumped into a waterway and the first rubber ducky to cross the designated finish line is declared the winner. The Great British Duck Race once released a whopping 200,000 rubber ducks into the River Thames to raise money for charity.
  • Celebrity ducks: Some companies create limited-edition ducks modeled after celebrities, fictional characters, and even U.S. presidents. More generically, they are sometimes created wearing costumes are uniforms.
  • Cruise Ship Hide-and-Seek: A delightful trend has emerged where cruise ship passengers hide rubber ducks for others to find. This game has fostered a sense of community and added an element of fun to voyages. You can read more about this fun activity and how it got started HERE
  • Not Really Rubber: Despite their name, modern day rubber duckies aren’t really made from rubber, instead they’re made from a soft plastic.

So there you have the results of my research. Did any of this information surprise you? Do you have any personal anecdotes about rubber duckies you’d like to share? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of one of my books along with a bonus of a little rubber duck reading companion!