1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Hans Christian. 1999. THE UGLY DUCKLING. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 068815932X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE UGLY DUCKLING is an adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson classic. In this version, a mother duck notices that one of her eggs is different from the rest. When the eggs hatch, the “different” one takes longer to crack open. When it finally hatches, an ugly, gray duckling emerges. Although this duckling is different from the other ducklings, the mother duck still loved him. She tried to console and protect him. “He may not be quite as handsome as the others,” she says, “but…I am sure he will make his way in the world as well as anybody.” However, the duckling’s siblings and peers maliciously taunted him. As matters grew worse, the duckling decided to leave the bad situation behind and begin a journey to find a peaceful existence. This lonesome journey was not an easy one, as it was filled with scary situations such as a close encounter with a hunter, the hunter’s dog, hunger, and extreme weather conditions. By the story’s end, the duckling evolves into what he is meant to be.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is a very dramatic and emotional story. The feelings of worthlessness and despair are communicated in a frank manner: “I am too ugly even for a dog to eat.” This story helps children understand the complex elements of bullying and its effects on victims in a logical way because it contains characters and a plot that children can relate to. The concept of perseverance is presented in a candid manner: “I will follow them (the swans), thought the duckling. I would rather be killed by them than suffer any more cold and hunger and cruelty.” This helps children understand that they must continue on and become who they are meant to be even when someone bullies them because they are different. This story provides a moral lesson to those who bully and those who are victims of bullying because of being different.
Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations are absolutely beautiful and fit very well with the text. The illustrations are lushly detailed with watercolors. The pictures span across the pages in a flowing way. The visual representation of the story establishes the story line vividly. However, the text is somewhat framed with a plain background in order to prevent distraction. This is to accommodate the needs of all readers. Younger children can gather what is happening through looking at the pictures only and older children can both look at the pictures and read the text. This story honestly discusses violent and harsh events such as the duckling’s experience with the hunter and being frozen in the water. The illustrations reflect the emotion of terror as the geese flee from the water when they are shot at and sadness when the duckling is frozen in the water. In the scene where the duckling realizes that he has evolved into a swan, the sun gently beams down on him. The warm glow around him reflects the triumph he is experiencing.
This will be an excellent book to share because it helps readers understand the concept of bullying and its effects on victims as well as perseverance. The issues of violence and harsh conditions are presented in an age-appropriate way. Also, the issue of being used is gently approached when the old woman said, “We will let it stay for a bit, for I am sure we will see some eggs from the creature soon enough.” The obvious journey was the duckling’s transformation into a beautiful swan. But, his physical appearance is not the only thing that underwent a transformation. He as a whole, evolved into a stronger being and that made him very happy because he survived multiple horrible ordeals.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Dramatic in content, sensitive in line, and rich with color…Children who are not familiar with the story will be captivated; those who have had the story read to them before will find new things to shiver over.”
Pointered review in KIRKUS: “Pinkney puts his heart into a story he loves, and makes it live again.”
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “Pinkney’s supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*If you feel comfortable leading a discussion on bullying, this is a book that enables students to vicariously experience bullying and its effects on victims. You can ask open-ended questions during this discussion, talk about the difficulties of being different and the pain of being rejected by peers. Have you ever been bullied by others for the way you look? How did it make you feel? Have you ever treated someone differently because they didn’t look and act like you?
Gather other books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney:
Pinkney, Jerry. THE LION AND THE MOUSE. ISBN 0316013560
Kipling, Rudyard. RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN 0060587857
Lester, Julius. JOHN HENRY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN 0140566228
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