The Ugly Duckling

I read The Ugly Duckling adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This book received the Caldecott Honor Book award. I thought I knew the story of the Ugly Duckling pretty well, but there were more details than I remembered. Also, I didn't realize how mean the other animals were to the little ugly duckling. However, in the end, he realizes that he's not even a duck, but the most beautiful swan. I love the quote at the end that says, "...the swan knew that it was worth having undergone all the suffering and loneliness that he had. Otherwise, he would never have known what it was like to be really happy." There is so much truth in that quote, and it is easily relatable because we've all gone through our own version of suffering and/or loneliness.

I think the appropriate grade level for the book would range from second grade to high school. Yes, it's a children's book, but there is a really big lesson in this story that is important for all ages to know. I also think that high schoolers would enjoy doing an essay over a children's book instead of only novels. I think the storyline would be a bit complicated for first grade and down to understand, but the lesson still applies. I would most definitely use this book in my classroom because of the lessons in the story of knowing that even in all the bad that it will get better, and that you are beautiful the way you are. One way I would use this book in the classroom would be to focus on character traits of the ugly duckling like how he looks, feels, thinks, and acts. Along with the character traits I would incorporate a art activity of making the ugly duckling to allow their creative minds to flow.

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