The Ugly Duckling by Pinkney Ages 5-10

“Books give me a great feeling of personal and artistic satisfaction. When I’m working on a book I wish the phone would never ring. I love doing it. My satisfaction comes from the actual marks on the paper, and when it sings, it’s magic."
For over one hundred years The Ugly Duckling has been a childhood favorite, and Jerry Pinkney's spectacular new adaptation brings it triumphantly to new generations of readers. With keen emotion and fresh vision, the acclaimed artist captures the essence of the tale's timeless appeal: The journey of the awkward little bird -- marching bravely through hecklers, hunters, and cruel seasons -- is an unforgettable survival story; this blooming into a graceful swan is a reminder of the patience often necessary to discover true happiness. Splendid watercolors set in the lush countryside bring drama to life.
The Ugly Duckling

By Jerry Pinkney, Hans Christian Andersen

Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Contributor Jerry Pinkney

Edition: illustrated

Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 1999

ISBN 068815932X, 9780688159320

40 pages Ages 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12

Outstanding illustrations and some new ...

... characters make Pinkney's retelling of a familiar tale memorable. This time around, there's an old woman who befriends the duck for its egg-laying potential, a hunting dog that happens upon the ... more » duck, a man who pulls the duck out of a frozen river and provides warmth and shelter, and children who comment on the once-ugly duckling's arrival at a pond, saying it is the finest of the flock. As in the original, suffering and loneliness are appeased, and the enduring lessons are reaffirmed: suffering may be necessary for growth and happiness, and loneliness may be overcome. A spirited, artistic adaptation, and a welcome addition to the shelves.

Kirkus Reviews Copyright (c) VNU Business Media, Inc.

K-Gr 4-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. His adaptation of the text succeeds in capturing the gentleness and melancholy ... more » of Andersen, although a bit of the social commentary has gone by the wayside. Pinkney does not shy away from including the more disturbing elements, such as the shooting of the geese, recognizing this episode's importance to the fabric of the story. The first glimpse he gives readers of the duckling, having at long last emerged from his shell, exhausted and vulnerable despite his size, foreshadows the events to come and immediately engages children's sympathy. Naturalists will quibble over the artist's choice of birds. This duckling is born into a mallard family, wild, not domestic, and the geese are Canadians, whose range is generally North America. However, these details do not in any way detract from the feast to the eye that these illustrations are, carefully composed and rich in detail. Even those owning The Ugly Duckling as told by Marianna Mayer, illustrated by Thomas Locker (Macmillan, 1987; o.p.)-the most recent "Duckling" of note-will welcome this fresh new version. An artistic tour de force that is worthy of its graceful fine-feathered subject.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Cahners Business Information (c) 1999
Best Books:

The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States Capitol Choices, 1999 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States The Children's Literature Choice List, 2000 ; Children's Literature; United States Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1999 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Notable Books for Children, 2000 ; American Library Association-ALSC; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 1999 ; Cahners; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 1999 ; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 2000 United States State and Provincial Reading Lists: 2X2 Reading List, 2000 ; Texas

Jerry Pinkney (born December 22, 1939) is an American illustrator of children’s books. He has received the Caldecott Medal five times,Coretta Scott King Award four times, four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards (most recently 2006 Little Red Hen), four Gold and four Silver medals from the Society of Illustrators, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (John Henry 1994). In 2000 he was given the Virginia Hamilton Literary award from Kent State University and in 2004 the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for outstanding contributions in the field of children’s literature.
Short Biography and Reviews with awards listed of all his books:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070813233427/http://www.childrenslit.com/f_pinkney.html