One year earlier, Animal Fair: Songs for Children had been presented separately on a two-disc 78-rpm set, using as a catalog number MJV 59.

Part of Columbia's brief (1955–56) House Party Series of 10-inch LPs, the album was called Children's Favorites, affixed with the catalog number CL 2570.

Two years later, this album was shortened by two tracks, christened with its final title, Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck and Other Children's Favorites, and reassigned to Columbia's budget label, Harmony Records, which employed HL 9507 as the catalog number.

Being the customary practice in the vinyl marketplace of the 60s, this monaural platter wound up electronically enhanced for stereo, circa 1963, and given the modified catalog number HS 14507.

The 1974 LP cover, later retained for the CD, was designed by Ed Lee and Eloise Smith, with illustrations by Reynolds Ruffin.