When a little boy finds a solitary egg on the riverbank, he places it on a nest with other eggs. When the eggs crack open, four yellow ducklings hatch, with one that doesn't look like the others. All the ducklings are treated the same way by the mother duck, but soon the one that looks different is called names, and is teased. People call him the 'ugly duckling'. The little duckling runs away to escape the taunts, but is found by a kind man and wife, who nurse him back to health. When the spring comes, the ugly duckling goes to a lake, where he meets some swans, and then finds out who he really is. Read the book to find out the happy surprise at the end. Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer whose fairy and traditional stories have been adapted into songs, films and many books, first wrote the story of the ugly duckling. The Tarantula Tales are much-loved traditional fairy tales and fables, retold for today with friendly and humorous illustrations, for any time and bedtime. The series is ideal for reading aloud and sharing with 2-4 year olds, and perfect for new readers to tackle alone.
This is volume 8 in The Childrens Fairy Tale Collection Tarantula Tales .
There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 1993 by The Gresham Publishing Co. Ltd .
Judy Hamilton is a writer, teacher and mother of three children.
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 ducklings reflection in the pond. He follows their gaze and realises he is not an ugly duckling any more but has transformed into beautiful swan.
