The Ugly Duckling

by Hans Christian Andersen, Donald Kasen (Adapted by)

Overview

In the heart of spring, a mother duck eagerly awaits the hatching of her eggs. Three ducklings emerge, but the fourth is different-large and awkward. Ridiculed and shunned, the "ugly duckling" embarks on a lonely journey, facing cruelty, hardship, and the harshness of winter. Yet, through perseverance and transformation, he discovers his true identity. As spring arrives, he sees his reflection-not a duck, but a magnificent swan. This timeless tale of self-discovery and inner beauty reminds us that true worth lies within, and even the most overlooked can grow into something extraordinary.

A word-for-word audio read-along is included with this book. See the inside cover for instructions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739635964
Publisher:	Peter Pauper Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/14/2025
Pages:	26
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.05(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in Odense, Denmark. A prolific writer, Andersen is best known for his fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages. By the time he died in Copenhagen in 1875, his work was known all over the world.

Bernadette Watts, known throughout Europe simply as Bernadette, has illustrated many dozens of folk- and fairy tales. Born in England, she loved to draw from childhood. She studied at the Maidstone Art School in Kent, UK, and for some time was taught by Brian Wildsmith and David Hockney. Bernadette’s many beautiful books include The Snow Queen and The Little Drummer Boy. Bernadette finds her inspiration in nature. Today she lives and works in Kent. She has been illustrating for NorthSouth Books and NordSüd Verlag since the beginning of her career fifty years ago.

Date of Birth:

April 2, 1805

Date of Death:

August 4, 1875

Place of Birth:

Odense, Denmark

Place of Death:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Editorial Reviews

An unusually beautiful version of an old favorite.

An unusually beautiful version of an old favorite.
— Book

Hans Christian Andersen

A gentler, milder version of Andersen's classic tale of the misunderstood cygnet, inexplicably despised for his comparatively large size and definite lack of yellow but not for any real ugliness. Vainio reveals through delicate watercolors the whitish-gray fluff of a charming, tender baby desperately alone in a soft, beautiful world. Though the illustrations are lovely, they lack power. In every situation where the innocent swan is abused and finds no respite from hatred, the art handles this horror too gently. His reactions to rejection and verbal abuse are revealed in the illustrations, with a slight incline of his head showing his dejection. He is also unnaturally slow in growing, remaining a fuzzy baby over the course of months and then suddenly growing to adulthood in a page turn-a problem inherent in most illustrated versions of the tale. The unnamed translator has edited out the most violent verbal and physical abuse found in the original, making a place for it in collections for younger picture-book readers yet losing the story's raw spark. (Picture book/fairy tale. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews