The Ugly Duckling : Read It Yourself Level 3 :

Alison Ainsworth ( Editor ) ; Stephen Holmes ( Illustrator )

ISBN 10: 0721408672 / ISBN 13: 9780721408675

Published by Ladybird Books, 1985

About this Item

Published In 1985 : 1st. Edition : Ladybird Books : Semi Large Print : Small Hardback Format With No No D / J Supplied : Glazed Illustrated Boards : Very Faint Face Rubbing : Otherwise , As New Throughout : Still Reasonably Crisp & Tight , With No Inscriptions : Good Solid Binding With Bright Clear Text & Illustrations : Overall , A Very Nice Young Children's Book :

Seller Inventory # 11 - 3128

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Ugly Duckling : Read It Yourself Level 3 :
• Publisher: Ladybird Books
• Publication Date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0721408672
• ISBN 13: 9780721408675
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • Young Children's Books

About this title

Synopsis

Ladybird reading level 3.

Review

Three-time Caldecott Honor artist and four-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, Jerry Pinkney doesn't disappoint with this lovely, old-fashioned, richly textured watercolour adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling. The mother duck knew from the very beginning that one of her babies would be different from the rest ... the sixth egg was large and oddly shaped. When it finally hatches that summer, she thinks the "monstrous big duckling" must be a turkey chick! Other ducks are appalled by the ugly duckling, and he is chased, pecked and kicked aside. When he can't stand it anymore, he runs away, eventually taking refuge in the warm cottage of an old woman, a cat and a hen. Missing the delicious feeling of the water too much to stay, however, he heads out again into the wide, increasingly cold autumn world.

One day, he heard a sound of whirring wings, and up in the air he saw a flock of birds flying high. They were as bright as the snow that had fallen during the night, and their long necks were stretched southward. Oh, if only he could go with them! But what sort of companion could he be to those beautiful beings?"

At last, after a hard, cold winter--and plenty of the kind of adventures no one really wants to have--the duckling sees the same flock of birds he'd seen in the sky so many months ago. He decides he will follow them, somewhat dramatically preferring to be killed by them rather than suffer any more "cold and hunger and cruelty". Much to his surprise, they welcome him! And when he looks for his dull, awkward reflection in the water, he sees a beautiful swan instead. Children who feel ostracised, even for the tiniest of differences, may shed a few sympathetic tears for the ugly duckling. And no doubt, it was Andersen's wish to give them the hope of one day finding their own peaceful place. (Ages 3 to 9) --Karin Snelson