The Ugly Duckling [Hardcover]

Rachel Isadora (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2009 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Set in the wilds of Africa, Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora?s stunning interpretation of the beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale portrays African animals and landscapes with beautiful detail. As the ugly duckling searches for a place where he can fit in, Isadora?s vibrant collages capture the beauty in everything from glistening feathers to shimmering sunsets.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Continuing Isadora’s series of European fairy tales placed in African settings, this picture book retells Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling,” simplifying the story for a younger audience. Scorned by “the animals on the farm” (depicted as African wildlife), the ugly duckling runs away and almost freezes when snow and ice cover the land. In this version of the surprise ending, the Ugly Duckling turns into a black swan (a species native to Australia). The cut-paper-collage illustrations are colorful and dynamic. Though there’s plenty about the adaptation for adults to discuss and criticize, many young children will find this vividly appealing. Preschool-Grade 1. --Carolyn Phelan

About the Author

Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.

Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.

Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (May 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399250298
• ISBN-13: 978-0399250293
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #910,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great New Perspective on a Classic!, October 19, 2009

By 

greenchic (McAllen, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ugly Duckling (Hardcover)

We all know the classic story of the "ugly" duckling that hung around ducklings that s/he didn't resemble and so thought that s/he was a messed up version of those ducklings. However, the duckling turns out to not be a duckling, but actually, a beautiful swan...different potential and resources in the beginning, but in the end at least as beautiful as the ducks. Great story, great moral.

IN THIS VERSION, the story is set in Africa, so the characters are surrounded by children in varied African-style garb and the other animals that the "duckling" interacts with are animals typical of the African continent. In the end, the "duckling" grows up to be a beautiful, shiny, black swan, differentiating this book from the classic version where the duckling grows into a beautiful, shiny, white swan.

The illustrations of the African children, adults, animals, and landscape are vivid and engrossing. You will spend at least as much time admiring the illustrations as you will the story.

I highly recommend this book to children of all ages!

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice take on the story, February 19, 2012

By 

Pixi6s (Boston) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ugly Duckling (Hardcover)

My son really liked another ugly duckling story that we had that I didn't really like. It was really boring. I got this one to replace it. It is overall exciting and the pictures are great. The swans are black though not too surprising if you have read other Isadora stories. My only complaint is the page were 2 geese get shot down out of the sky take me aback a little and I thought about returning it because of this. Also the big scary dog on the next page that "doesn't bite the duckling because he is so ugly". But my 2 year old son likes it, he especially likes a page near the end with the shadow of different African animals. Good bye just a few things to be aware of. It I had gotten it from library first I probably wouldn't have got it - though maybe our loss had it gone that way...

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book..QUACK QUACK!!, May 27, 2010

By 

Street Guy Professor (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ugly Duckling (Hardcover)

Loved this book! It is so creative and different from all other Ugly Duckling books I own....it is my very favorite children's story. I own a bookstore near Miami, FLA and keep stocking this rendition. I just want to thank the folks from Penguin/Putnam who accepted this idea....LOVE IT!