Book Review #4 Traditional Literature

 Book Review #4-Traditional Literature

 The Ugly Duckling

Adapted and Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Pinkney, Jerry.  1999. THE UGLY DUCKLING.  New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 068815932X

PLOT SUMMARY

In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, Pinkney introduces the reader to a baby swan who begins his life as an ugly duckling and struggles to fit in a world who doesn't accept him.  His mother is the exception, she loves and cares for him while everyone else teases him without any compassion.  The duckling felt desperate to get away from the insults and the horrible treatment the other animals gave him, even his own brothers and sisters.  He leaves the farm to venture out into the world seeking a life of peace, peace he thought he could only feel by being alone.  Throughout the first year of his life he struggles desperately to find a new, safe home.  In his new dangerous world, he manages to survive through a long harsh winter, finally spring came and  he saw a flock of beautiful birds and joins them.  When he joined them he discovered that he is just like them.  At the end of this classic tale he feels pure joy in his heart because of the feeling of being beautiful and accepted.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This classic tale gives a message of hope to anyone who has struggled to fit in or who has been treated unfairly like this duck because they were different.  Pinkney keeps the reader engaged and brings out feelings of empathy and compassion when he describes the treatment the duckling is given.  Children can relate to the feeling of being treated unfairly and wanting to do everything in their power to fit in.  This story keeps the reader in suspense, the reader wants to know what will happen next, what will happen to the poor duckling.  Even though some of the events might seem a bit traumatic, this brings out children's feelings of empathy.

The use of watercolors in his illustrations are simply beautiful and reflects the time period of this classic tale.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Medal 2002

Starred Review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Pinkney's (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi) supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic."

Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The appeal of this tale is as strong today as it was 150 years ago, and Pinkney has done an admirable job of repacking it for a new generation."

CONNECTIONS

*The Ugly Duckling is a story that every child can relate to, every child has struggled to do something or has experienced wanting to fit in, wanting to be part of a group.  Children can talk about a time when they had a difficult time with something and how they overcame it.

*Another story about fitting in:

Leaf, Munro.  THE STORY OF FERDINAND. ISBN 0670062642