The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Andersen, Hans Christian Crossley-Holland, Kevin, Reteller

The Ugly Duckling

32 pp. | Knopf | September, 2001 | Trade ISBN 0-375-81319-5 $$15.95

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Meilo So. This careful adaptation retains the tone of Andersen's famous story, as well as all of the telling details of plot and character. With a minimal use of line, So's watercolors adeptly portray the characters and the overwhelming world the ugly duckling must navigate all by himself. The text and illustrations work well together to express the duckling's feelings of isolation--and at the book's end, his joy.

Reviewer: Anne St. John