Oh Rubber Ducky!

Some are! However, most rubber ducks these days are made from a rubber-like substance such as vinyl plastic. Real rubber ducks are extra squishy and flexible. They are also more likely to have a nice loud squeaker.

Vinyl plastic rubber ducks, on the other hand, tend to be more "seaworthy." They're also heavier and sturdier. You could leave a nice welt if you threw it at somebody hard enough.

We don't really know when they made the very first rubber duck. We do know that they probably first started appearing in the late 1800s, right around the time we discovered this wonderful stuff called rubber. All sorts of fun rubber toys were made about this time.

But how did the rubber ducky achieve such an iconic status? Why not the rubber froggy? Rubber goosey? Rubber fishy? It's hard to say. It's like trying to explain why the yellow smiley face or fuzzy dice caught on: Such things are not entirely logical.

While the rubber duck has been around for a long time, it probably achieved its status as a pop culture icon thanks to Sesame Street's "Rubber Duckie" song.

Many rubber duckies do indeed emit a high-pitched squeak when you squeeze them. Ernie's own rubber ducky did! Sadly, not all rubber ducks come with their own squeaker. Some of them can only hiss like a goose, and some of them are completely mute.

But I think it's safe to say that all squeezable rubber duckies with a hole can squirt.

There are people who collect rubber ducks as a hobby, and there are those who build websites completely dedicated to rubber ducks. But why? What's so compelling about them? Well...

• Rubber ducks are cheery! They wear a perpetual smile no matter what. They often come in bright, cheerful colors such as yellow or pink. How can you stay in a foul mood when you have a rubber duck as a friend?


• Rubber ducks are versatile! There are pirate duckies, viking duckies, Star Wars duckies, dead duckies--just about any kind of rubber duck you can think of.


• Rubber ducks are a classic! They are one of the most enduring pop culture symbols ever. It is the one bathroom toy that people instantly recognize, even in silhouette.


• Rubber ducks are silly! And what's wrong with that, I'd like to know? If you ask me, this dreary world could use more wholesome silliness. McCartney would agree, I'm sure!


• Rubber ducks are durable! Lots of toys have moving parts that eventually wear down or break. Rubber ducks aren't hampered by such things. They last forever.

The "Rubber Duckie" Song was first sung in 1970 by Ernie (Jim Henson), a character on Sesame Street. If you want to learn more fun facts about this song, stop by the Muppet Wiki.

Rubber Duckie Lyrics:

Rubber Ducky, you're the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you;
(Woo woo be doo)

Rubber Ducky, joy of joys,
When I squeeze you, you make noise!
Rubber Ducky, you're my very best friend, it's true!
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo)

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby
Rub-a-dub-a-dubby!

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you.

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of -
Rubber ducky, I'd like a whole pond of -
Rubber ducky I'm awfully fond of you!
(Doo doo, be doo)

• When life gets you down, just keep on smiling.


• Float placidly in the bath tub of life.


• Sometimes people just need someone who will be quiet and listen to them.


• It's perfectly natural to squeak your excitement.


• Don't fight the tide, just go with the flow.


• Bath time is more fun with company.


• Don't take life too seriously.

Join the Duck side of the Force! This evil rubber ducky bears a remarkable resemblance to Darth Vader. Darth Ducky doesn't come with its own cool lightsaber, but it does glow pretty colors.

Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to find one. All the websites offering Duck Faders say they're sold out! Personally I think they were seduced by the dark side and are just hogging them all.

This has to be one of the weirder rubber ducky products I've seen. It's a 256MB USB device attached to a rubber ducky. Otherwise known as the i-duck.

So what does it do, apart from plugging into your computer and looking cute? Well, apparently it lights up a pretty color when you plug it in. Comes in six different colors. I don't think it squeaks, though.

You can see more of them by visiting Dynamism.com.

Rainbow Rubber Ducks on Black by rubberduckdesigns
View more iphone cases

Some rubber duckies float perfectly. They bob happily in the water, and they don't let waves get them down. Some duckies float precariously at best, capsizing in rough bathwater seas. And others, well, they just can't seem to stay upright.

Our real rubber ducky, The King, doesn't float upright. He has a fat head and wears a gaudy crown, so he always tips over as soon as you put him in the water. He has a nice squeaker, and he really is made of rubber, but he's not seaworthy at all.

Some rubber duckies float well, but they leak! Our rubber ducky from the Peabody Hotel is the best floater, but he leaks. And no, he doesn't have a big drain hole like most duckies; he's supposed to be sealed tight. Unfortunately, he takes in water, which is impossible to get out. So even though Mr. Peabody is the best floating duck in our collection, he rarely enjoys a dip in the bathtub.

The best rubber duckies for bath time fun shouldn't be too top-heavy, and they should either be perfectly sealed, or have a small hole in the bottom. The hole makes it easy to squeeze most of the water out.

Unfortunately it's impossible to tell whether a hole-less rubber ducky is perfectly sealed. The only way to find out is to put it in the bath tub and see if it takes water.

The curmudgeonly grammarian in me says "rubber ducky!" However, according to Wikipedia, "rubber duckie" is used prevalently amongst rubber duck collectors, so both "rubber ducky" and "rubber duckie" are acceptable.

Maybe the real question we should be asking is why we're not calling them vinyl plastic duckies?

I am now the proud owner of two Deluxe Ducks: Patriot and Jack. They're, well, rather big and flamboyant as rubber ducks go. They have bold paint jobs, too. Check out Jack's paint job to the right.

These rubber ducks squeak and float well in calm waters. But they're rather top-heavy, which means they capsize easily and don't get back up on their own. It's also hard to squeeze water out of them. They squeak over and over again when I try to pump the water out.

Good rubber ducks, certainly colorful, but perhaps not the best for rough play.

You can get Deluxe Ducks over at Price Hot.

Have you heard about Rubberducking? It's when you tell your problems to someone who just listens and nods understandingly. When you're rubberducking, it's not the listener's job to volunteer ideas or solutions; the idea is to keep talking and describing the problem until you finally stumble on the solution.

Although some say it's better to get a real person to smile and nod at you, a rubber ducky will happily serve the part. It will smile and never interrupt, although you may have to help it mimic the nodding movements.

Read more about rubber-ducking...

Ernie is quite fond of his ducky, and dedicates another song to his chubby yellow friend in 1986. "Do De Rubber Duck!" has a nice reggae beat. Here are the lyrics:

Do De Rubber Duck
Ernie: There's a brand new dance
And it's got a reggae beat
You do it in the bath
While you wash your hands and feet

Get in the tub
Hold your duckie in your lap
Tap your toes while you scrub
In the water from the tap

All: And do de duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck
Rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, rubber duck, duck

Ernie: Come on everybody try
(Do de rubber duck!)
Don't be left high and dry
(Yeah do de rubber duck!)
As you keep on getting wetter
(Do de rubber duck!)
You'll be feeling so much better
(Do de rubber duck!)
You'll be left without a care
(When you do de rubber duck!)
And you can even wash your hair
(While you do de rubber duck!)
It will have a healthy sheen
(If you do de rubber duck!)
Yeah you'll be squeaky clean
(When you do de rubber duck!)

All: And do de duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck
Rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, rubber duck, duck

Telly: Don't get soap in your eye
(When you do de rubber duck!)
'Cause that'll make you cry
(When you do de rubber duck!)

Oscar: Hey all you grouches sing
(Now do de rubber duck!)
Yeah make the bathtub ring
(Do de rubber duck!)

Ernie: Everybody knows
(How to do de rubber duck!)
Scrub your flippers and your toes
(Do de rubber duck!)

The Count: And while you wash away your troubles
(Do de rubber duck!)
Don't forget to count the bubbles
One, two, three, four!

All: Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck
Rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, rubber duck, duck

Biff: All around the woild
(Dey do de rubber duck!)
Whenever folks get soiled
(Dey do de rubber duck!)

Guy Smiley: Watch 'em splishin' and a-splashin'
(Do de rubber duck!)
It's the very latest fashion!
(Do de rubber duck!)

Gladys the Cow: Take at least one bath a day
(Do de rubber duck!)
And you'll moooove those germs away
(Do de rubber duck!)

Hoots the Owl: Come and be a bathtime bopper!
(Do de rubber duck!)
Don't pull out the stopper!
(Do de rubber duck!)

All: Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck
Rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, rubber duck, duck

One more time!

And do de duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck
Rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, duck, rubber duck, rubber duck,
Duck, rubber duck, rubber duck, duck

Have you ever heard of this exciting sport? It's a chance to see thousands of little rubber duckies drifting down a river to the finish line.

Rubber duck races are usually hosted by charities and non-profit organizations. You can adopt your own rubber duck for a fee, and the proceeds will benefit the organization or charity. You also have a chance to win great prizes.

Yes indeed, Queen Elizabeth II herself is the proud owner of a rubber ducky-- or at least she was in 2001. A rubber ducky wearing an inflatable crown was spotted in her bathroom by workman who was in charge of repainting the walls. He said he nearly fell off his ladder when he saw it!

[ Read the full story at CBBC Newshound ]

Apparently Long Island University students were fired from their Resident Assistant positions for creating a two minute video that mocks terrorists and hostage situations. The students wore ski-masks and spoke in very bad Middle Eastern accents. They threatened to kill the rubber duck if they didn't receive payment in the form of pastries and doughnuts.

The university wasn't amused by this silliness. According to Provost Joseph Shenker, "At C.W. Post, we take seriously our obligation to create a campus environment that is free of prejudice and intolerance." He also said, "This is not an issue of free speech, but rather an issue of respect for others and insensitively to acts of violence."

That's right, think of that poor rubber duck! Oh, wait, I guess he was referring to Muslims and families of hostages.

The students have apologized for any offense they may have caused, but they're also suing the university for $2.5 million. And they want their jobs back.

Read more...

It was January of 1992. A cargo ship departing from China lost 29,000 rubber duckies, froggies, turtles, and other bathtub toys due to some unfortunate accident... or perhaps it was a daring escape!

Most of the duckies traveled south and landed on the shores of Australia, Indonesia, and South America.

The rest of the rubber duckies decided to make their fortune by going north to the Arctic. It was a long and treacherous journey. They ended up frozen in ice!

But their story doesn't end there. They broke free after a few years and headed straight towards Britain in summer of 2007.

Their voyage lasted over fifteen years. They were destined to be mere bathtub toys, but instead they traveled the world and taught scientists a lot about how the ocean currents work!

You can read the full story at Daily Mail.

Holy cow, that's a big rubber duck. This inflatable rubber ducky was created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, and was put on display at the Loire River, France, in 2007. It's 205 foot fall and 85 foot wide. It's known as Canard de bain, or "rubber duck."

Here's what Hofman has to say about his creation: "A yellow spot on the horizon slowly approaches the coast. People have gatherd and watch in amazement as a giant yellow Rubber Duck approaches. The spectators are greeted by the duck, which slowly nods its head. The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn't discriminate people and doesn't have a political connotation. The friendly, floating Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!"

Ain't that ducky? You can see more pictures at Florentijn's website.

Somewhere out there is a woman who creates art with rubber duckies. Specifically, she creates scenes for real-life rubber duckies to play in.

Interested? Check out Deborah Pasternak's Rub-a-dub-Duckie art gallery.

Want to race some rubber ducks? APE Games is currently selling a game that includes REAL rubber ducks. I'm not sure if that means these ducks are really made of rubber, or if APE Games is merely trying to assure us that you get actual duck toys that float in the bath tub.

Anyway, you need at least two players, and the idea is to get your rubber duck to perform certain moves and touch all the buoys before crossing the finish line.

Visit APE Games to learn more...

Do you collect rubber duckies? Interested in connecting with other folks who love rubber duckies? Check out this rubber ducky forum at Duckplanet!

No, it's a serious question: If you were a rubber ducky, what kind would you be? I would probably be a classic yellow rubber ducky. You can find out for sure by taking a Rubber Duck Quiz:

Which Rubber Ducky Are You?
What 's Your Rubber Duckie Style?

OK, so you've come this far. Have you learned a lot? How much do you really know about rubber ducks?

Find out by taking my rubber ducky quiz!