The Ugly Duckling

by Lilian Moore (Retold By), Daniel San Souci

An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals in the barnyard before he grows into a beautiful swan.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Animals, Classics

48 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 1988

About the author

Lilian Moore grew up in New York, received a degree in teaching from Hunter College, and did graduate work at Columbia University. She attended college during the Depression, so job opportunities were few. She worked for the Bureau of Educational Research, helping children who could not read in their Reading Clinic. Ms. Moore was also a reading specialist for the New York Board of Education. She trained teachers and did extensive research into reading difficulties.

She was the editor of Scholastic's first paperback book club, the Arrow Book Club, beginning in 1957. As she said, "Imagine making it possible for these youngsters to choose and buy good books for the price of comics!" She was an editor at Wonder Books, Thomas Y. Crowell, and contributor to Humpty Dumpty magazine.

In addition, Ms. Moore was a founding member of the Council on Interracial Books for Children. Ms. Moore died on July 20, 2004, at the age of 95.

She is best known for her poetry and easy-to-read books.

Reviews

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably one of my most favorite retellings of the story of The Ugly Duckling and one that has basically kept with me due to the small part that says green is good for the eyes. Furthermore it is a beautiful adaptation and one that most definitely needs to be a part of any home library collection.

Lillian's Moore's adaptation starts off by painting a beautiful portrait of the world where her particular story is taking place. She has an eye for detail in making sure the reader is aware of the colors that form the background, the plants that fill the area and the exact location with its boat dug out and the grand stork who speaks Egyptian as his mother has taught him. It is a beautiful introduction to this particular literary world.

The story from there follows about the same guideline although sticking with giving a much detailed story. As a result it is one of the longest versions that is out there but one to whom the reader can relate the various characters with similar people in their lives.

What I most definitely love about this book, though, is the gorgeous artwork. The background scenery is done so gorgeously and realistically that it is magical to view the pages where they were permitted in. Although there are plenty of colors, most are muted but the details are what is breathtaking, especially with the lilac trees. The only times I really found any weirdness to these illustrations was the fact the stork looks like he is walking on air to show off his red legs and the awkward abnormality of trying to portray talking yet realistic ducks although it isn't as bad as you would consider.

Like many other books with the Duckling as its protagonist the size and natural biological change from cygnet to adult isn't shown while I hope eventually someday someone may take it upon themselves to do so. But until then I will have to wait but until then I have my eyes on another related book that I tripped upon while looking for some answers to questions incurred by this book.

[Dane Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: The Ugly Duckling
Author: retold by Lillian Moore
Illustrator: Daniel San Souci
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.1
Guided Reading: J
traits: Conventions  this story uses a lot of quotes which will help the reader be introduced to this part of grammar. Sentence Fluency  Has varying sentence patters. And follows a narrative pattern. This gives the story a good rhythm.
The simplified retelling here may be more palatable to younger readers, but it flattens the story, making a bit of a stiff read that may not appeal to modern youth. But San Souci's illustrations with many patterns and charming touches that contribute to give this text a period setting. Certainly, there was never a more miserable duckling, who later, unaware of his own new beauty, cannot raise his head in front of the swans. Because the book lacks the literary richness of the original Hans Christian Andersen, but just projects a dark story of cruelty. The duckling is afraid that his own ugliness will so offend them that they'll want to kill him. This is a good book to review the usage of quotes and how that has an impact on storytelling.

[Nicole Longendyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Awards: None
2. Level: 1st-4th grade
3. Summary: The Ugly Duckling tells the life of one duckling that looked different from his brothers and sisters. It goes on to tell about his struggles to fit in somewhere. Finally, he realizes what true happiness really is.
4. Review: The book, “The Ugly Duckling” teaches about how hurtful words can be. The ugly duckling talks about his struggles and dreams to find somewhere to fit in. In the end it tells how everyone is unique and finds their place in the world. I found that there are endless possibilities for uses in the classroom using “The Ugly Duckling”.
5. Lessons: This book can be used for many lessons such as; fitting in, being kind, feelings and emotions, accepting everyone for who they are, and can also be used for an animal lesson about ducks.

[Amanda Zell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Ugly Duckling" is a classic tale that is used in several different settings and offers up the idea that sometimes, people must grow into their beauty.
I have decided to analyze the are on this particular book largely in part to the idea that I really noticed how much art in picture book has changed over the years. The space on these pages was not completely covered by pictures. In fact, the pictures did not even stand out. I understand that this book was published several years ago, but the pictures, I feel, did not do as good of job interacting with the text as books that are published today do. The colors were dull and uninteresting.

[Makenzie Soeken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This classic story tells the tale of the misfit hatchling in a group of ducks. In the beginning of his life, he followed what he thought to be his family around, and all they did was harass him about how ugly they thought he was. He then leaves his family to go out into the world, where he is still isolated because of his looks. One day, after a winter of being alone and afraid, he goes back to the pond to find two beautiful swans. As he approaches them, he is surprised that they welcome him with open arms. Turns out, he was a beautiful swan too! This book teaches children to embrace who they are, and find people who will accept them for that.

[Jaden]

Traditional Literature

This was a retold story of the Ugly Duckling. A duck was sitting on her eggs until they hatched, but one large egg took a little extra time. When it finally hatched the bird was ugly. It didn't look anything like the others. Everywhere the ducking went it got made fun of, bit, or kicked. It made it through a whole winter by itself and when the ducking went to go meet some swans he saw that were so beautiful, he realized he was a swan. He saw his beautiful reflection and heard people talking about him that he was the most beautiful. The young swan went from feeling so sad, too so happy and proud.

[Katie Williams]

This is typical rewrite of the story The Ugly Duckling. It follows the traditional story quite to the point and has great pictures. I believe a good lesson that could be taught along side reading this book would be about bullying, how to treat others who are different than us, equality despite the many differences that are found in the classroom, how to respect others for who they are, and most importantly be yourself. This would be a good book to read and relate to children who may be experiencing and participating in bullying or shunning of other students who are "different."

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the detailing in the story, but it is very wordy for a young child. It will take more than one sitting to get through the whole book. It is the classic tale, but I was sad for the duckling because he is very much bullied and seems to just accept it as right. So you will want to have a conversation about bullying and how even though the duckling was OK in this book, many people are deeply wounded by bullies.

[Shaley Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute book. It is about a duck being born into a family that doesnt look like a duck. The mother takes up for her duckling and treats him like he is apart of her family no matter what the other animals are saying. It is about acceptance into a world that doesnt want to accept him becuase he looks different from the other ducks.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously, a re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen's story. Good to teach kids not to judge a book by its cover and also a few other good life lessons as well.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

despite what goodreads says, Lilian Moore is the author/interpeter of this story and Daniel San Souci does his usual fantastic art.

[Makkena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is one that is retold by the author. It follows the same story line as the older “Ugly Duckling” folk tale.

[Sam Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't read this version to children. It says words like queer and obviously ugly a lot to describe the ducks odd appearance.

[Karim Elmenshawy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's self-acceptance, there's family acceptance, and there's social acceptance.

[Natalie Samuels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction
Can be used to teach about seeing beauty within yourself and to teach about confidence

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story. It is included in an edition with "The Real Princess" and "The Tinder Box" by SBS books in 1969.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ugly ducking is a very very good book.