Join the Book Club: THE UGLY DUCKLING, By Jerry Pinkney

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

From the time he hatches out of a large, oddly shaped egg, the ugly duckling knows he is different from the rest of his family. His long neck and dull gray feathers are clearly not the same as the other ducklings’ soft yellow fluff, and he struggles to fit in from day one. The other ducks and animals living near the pond taunt the ugly duckling relentlessly, insisting he is too ugly and a disgrace to the brood. Overtime, the duckling grows so tired of the pecking and chasing that he decides to run away from home late one night. Once on his own, the ugly duckling’s luck seems only to go from bad to worse. He stumbles into a mess of hunters and dogs, narrowly escaping the teeth of a persistent hound. Next he wanders to the cottage home of an old women and her pets, only to discover he is too antsy to live cooped up in a house. Feeling even more dejected, the ugly duckling spends a lonely autumn and winter fighting to survive the cold and hunger. He dreams of flying high towards the south with a flock of birds he sees above him one day, but fears he will always be miserable and alone. When spring finally returns and the earth begins to melt, the young duckling feels stronger in the warm sun. When he catches sight of the same beautiful birds he saw soaring away months ago he decides to follow them as they glide through a stream. Shocked by their welcoming friendliness, the ugly duckling is confused until he happens to catch sight of his reflection in the shimmering water. He no longer saw dull feathers and an awkward neck - he was now a beautiful bird, just like the flock of birds he admired. It turns out that our hero was not an ugly duckling at all, but a graceful, peaceful swan.

Jerry Pinkney’s award-winning adaption of Hans Christian Andersen’s THE UGLY DUCKLING presents simple characters that readers will relate to and sympathize with as they read along. The poor ugly duckling, who struggles to find his place in a world where he thinks he does not fit in, will be a familiar story of good versus bad to many. His journey through the seasons on his own brings the tale to its quick and predictable ending, when the duckling’s suffering pays off and he is rewarded with the revelation of his true identity. Good does triumph over evil, and the ugly duckling’s explicit theme reminds us to not judge others who are different than ourselves and to always remember that the hard times make the good times that much better.

Pinkney’s exquisite watercolor illustrations bring his adaptation of THE UGLY DUCKLING to life, portraying the tiny details of the pond and marshes as the duckling makes his way through the tale. From the sharp edges of a freshly hatched duck egg to the soft feathers of a newborn baby chick, Pinkney’s illustrations invite readers to imagine touching the images in his book. The muted colors throughout the pages also convey the title character’s feelings of distress and loneliness. When he is frightened by the loud bangs of a hunter’s gun, Pinkney shows a bustling flock of geese that are squawking and upsetting the water’s surface, causing a chaos of sound and fury. Later, when the ugly duckling is sad and alone for his restless swim, the illustrations are gray and dark, showing looming fish and plants moving slowly in the murky water. And readers cannot help but shiver when they see the cold white frost on the poor duckling’s feathers as he tucks his head, alone in the freezing water. Pinkney’s illustrations carry the tale forward, ending with a sunny depiction of the duckling-turned-swan soaring through the warm, shimmering water. The final pages of the book finally show bright and bold colors, from the lush green grass to the yellow light of warmth surrounding the book’s hero as he flaps his strong wings, surrounded by the other swans.

Jerry Pinkney’s THE UGLY DUCKLING is a Caldecott Honor Book and one of the AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S Notable Children’s Books. HARPER COLLINS praises “Pinkney's spectacular new adaptation,” that “brings it triumphantly to new generations of readers.” SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL attests that “the appeal of this tale is as strong today as it was 150 years ago, and Pinkney has done an admirable job of repackaging it for a new generation.” Pinkney’s THE UGLY DUCKLING’s clear message and lovable character will make this adaptation of a classic into a quick classic itself.
____

For more of Jerry Pinkney’s takes on traditional tales, check your local library for:

THE LION AND THE MOUSE, ISBN 0316013560

NOAH'S ARK, ISBN 1587172011

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, ISBN 0316013552