Rubber duckies have been with us for a very long time, and are likely to remain so.  From film and television, and all over advertising, these little guys prove that they have permeated our culture throughout, winning hearts and bathtubs everywhere.  Here is a look at some of the more notable rubber ducks of the world.

The bridge has to be given in this one just for scale.  It is inflatable, and just kind of floats there and makes people smile, he looks like you could hope right on him and take off down the channel with it. The giant duck was created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman for the French group Loire Estuary in 2007. This guy just goes to show that no matter how much you pay for a piece of art, it can still be laughed at by your friends.  Because he is inflatable, and I wonder how long he will last in the weather out there.

A very famous duck, mostly because of the little song Ernie wrote for it.  Both Ernie and his roommate Bert live in a basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street, New York, NY.  Ernie was originally played by Jim Henson himself until his death in 1990. Ernie actually traded his rubber duck at Christmas time to “Mr. Hooper” for a cigar box so that Bert can put his paper clips in it.  Bert likewise trades his paperclips for a soap dish for Ernie’s rubber duck and Mr. Hooper gives them both their items back as gifts in the end.   Ernie’s famous song about his rubber duck reached number 17 on the 1970 Billboard top 100 hits, a modest popularity for a kid’s tune on national radio.  Ernie and his rubber duck teach kids the world over to complete simple tasks such as bathing with a smile and song.

Seriously, Duck Vader.  Proof positive that not only do we all have too much time AND money on our hands, but we are not afraid to display that fact proudly in our homes.  This particular model even lights up when it gets in the water.  Kids are so spoiled these days; all we got was plain yellow ones.  But this is the one you want to send down the river in the Ken-Duck-ee Derby.