"The Ugly Duckling"

The Ugly Duckling
Author: Hans Christian Anderson, Adapted by Jerry Pinkney
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fiction, Acceptance
Theme: Not fitting in, Judgement
Primary/Secondary Characters: Mother Duck, 4 Ducklings, the Ugly duckling, Old Woman, Hen and Cat, Good man and his Family, Swans
Date of Publication: Year 1999
Publishing Company:  Harper Collins Publishing
Award: Caldecott Honor Book


Summary: Mother duck had hatched 4 beautiful ducklings, and came to realize that the fifth egg would not hatch.
When it did eventually hatch, the duckling was not beautiful, but a brown ugly duckling that did not look like the rest. Every animal at the pond made fun of the Ugly Duckling, even his brothers and sisters. A hunter attempted to shoot the flock, and everyone flew away, but the Ugly Duckling could not fly. He hid in the brush and was discovered by a hunting dog, who thought him too ugly to pay any attention. The Ugly Duckling was very sad, and found a cottage where an old woman and a hen and cat resided, and those animals made fun of the duckling, as well. The duckling stayed there 3 weeks, and was actually welcomed, but all he wanted to do was swim, so he fled from the cottage into the real world. A good man and his family found the Ugly Duckling stuck in ice in the pond, and rescued him and brought him back to his family. His family took care of the Ugly Duckling, who came to realize he was not ugly anymore, but a beautiful, flying swan. This novel can be used greatly in the classroom when teaching acceptance and the impact of negative words on others. Students can see how hateful words effected the Ugly Duckling, and see how they can adapt their attitudes towards their fellow classmates. They can also realize that looks are not everything, and that everyone is a beautiful human being.