The Ugly Duckling retold by Sindiwe Magona and illustrated by Natalie Hinrichsen. The poor ugly duckling looks very different from the other ducklings. His duck family tease him and make him feel unwanted even though he simply wants to be loved and belong. So he runs away and sets off on a long and lonely journey. Will he ever be loved and accepted for who he is?
There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2011 by Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd .
Sindiwe Magona is a writer, a poet, a dramatist, an actress, a motivational speaker, and a former employee of the United Nations. She is the author of numerous books, including Mother to Mother and To My Children's Children . Her novel Beauty's Gift was short-listed for Africa's Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Natalie Hinrichsen is an illustrator specializing in children's books. She is the recipient of the Vivian Wilkes award for Tell the Moon .
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.
