The Ugly Duckling [Hardcover]

Hans Christian Andersen (Author), Robert Ingpen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

For two hundred years, Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling has been a childhood favorite all over the world. Now Robert Ingpen brings his spectacular adaptation to new generations of readers.
Born bigger and different than the other hatchlings, the ugly duckling is ridiculed by his brothers and sisters, rejected by the other ducks, and eventually shunned by his own mother. The little bird leaves his home, embarking on a brave journey through hecklers, hunters, and cruel seasons-only to discover that the beauty he was seeking was inside him all along.
A beautifully told and brilliantly illustrated edition of this classic, essential story every child should embrace.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5–Bell's able and elegant translation of this classic tale omits nothing: the ugly duckling, rejected by his siblings and mother, runs away. He journeys to the marshes where he meets wild ducks and geese and watches as they are slaughtered by hunters, is told by a cat and hen that he does not possess the right talents, and is later rescued by a farmer from freezing fast in a pond. Eventually, he realizes his true identity and is happy with himself but modest because "a good heart never shows pride." Ingpen's bold impressionistic paintings fill the spreads and render the birds with pleasing angularity. However, the text often seems crowded on the page and is obscured in some instances by the dark, earth-toned palette. This edition suits libraries wishing to have the whole story, but young children will be more readily drawn into and less frightened by versions illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (HarperCollins, 1999) or Lorinda B. Cauley (Harcourt, 1979).–Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Trying to appeal to a preschool audience, most picture-book versions of "The Ugly Duckling" take out much of the misery and thus lessen the impact of the happy ending, when the "ugly duckling," rejected by the barnyard fowls, is accepted by his fellow swans. In this edition, Bell's graceful translation tells the whole story of the hero's misfortune, rejection, and misery, creating a feeling of darkness true to Andersen's text and making the ending more wonderful in comparison with the suffering that has gone before. Ingpen's beautifully composed paintings, which appear to incorporate elements of collage, are rather dark. Though the placement of text over patterned backgrounds may occasionally make reading hard for children, this is probably a book for adults to read aloud. A handsome edition that respects its source. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Minedition (January 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698400100
• ISBN-13: 978-0698400108
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Multicultural

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ugly Duckling, January 2, 2012

By 

David Roderick (Eugene, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ugly Duckling (Illustrated) (Graphic Spin) (Kindle Edition)

With my grandchildren in mind, I recently searched for free Kindle books with illustrations that would be appropriate for different young age groups. Wow! In no time at all I found the story by Hans Christian Anderson of "The Ugly Duckling". What a treasure! And...the free Kindle Fire edition is outstanding. Well formatted with many colorful illustrations. I loved the story (even at 75 years old) and knew that it would be perfect for our grandchildren in the range of 5-8 years old. Or, maybe until 100. I read it once again and marvelled at its universality. This is a winner and I give it five stars!!! Outstanding job Graphic Spin and Amazon!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ugly Duckling, January 23, 2012

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Ugly Duckling (Illustrated) (Graphic Spin) (Kindle Edition)

This book has been read in my 5th grade class on kindles and everyone loved it.When I got it I kept thinking that it does not matter what it looks on the out it matters whats on the inside.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute but not what I was expecting, January 22, 2012

By 

K. Weems (Corpus Christi, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ugly Duckling (Illustrated) (Graphic Spin) (Kindle Edition)

I like the story but I had thought it would be more of a kids version. Still a good story but not something I would want to read to a child - I'm not sure it would hold their attention very long with so many long pages full and not very many pics.