"The Ugly Duckling" by Jerry Pinkney tells the classic tale of a little duckling who is shunned by his peers for being different. As he grows, he faces ridicule and loneliness but eventually embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, he encounters various animals who reinforce his feelings of inadequacy. However, with time and patience, the duckling blossoms into a beautiful swan, revealing his true identity and finding acceptance. This beautifully illustrated adaptation captures the essence of transformation, belonging, and the celebration of individuality, showing that true beauty lies within. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].
This book is aimed at children in preschool-3rd grade.
This book has been graded for interest at 4-8 years.
There are 40 pages in this book. This book was published in 1999 by HarperCollins .
Jerry Pinkney has been illustrating children's books since 1964 and has the rare distinction of being the recipient of: Five Caldecott Honor Medals Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author and poet, most famous for his writing down of many timeless, classic fairy tales. He is Denmark's most famous author and his birthday is celebrated every year with a part called "Odin Story Day".
This book contains the following story:
The Ugly Duckling
A mother duck sits on her eggs. When they hatch she has five pretty ducklings and one ugly grey duckling. ‘How ugly you are, ’ says the mother to her duckling. Wherever they go the message is the same – ugly, ugly duckling. The ugly duckling is so upset he runs away and hides. Spring turns to summer and then winter and the ugly duckling stays hidden away from the mean animals. Then spring returns and the ugly duckling emerges from his hiding place to admire a flock of swans on the river. ‘How beautiful you are’, he says to them. ‘But so are you’, reply the swans and point to the ugly duckling’s reflection in the pond. He follows their gaze and realises he is not an ugly duckling any more but has transformed into beautiful swan.
