Ugly by Donna Jo Napoli

7 Stars

Based on Hans Christian Anderson's classic tale of "The Ugly Duckling", this book tells of a young bird who just doesn't fit in with those around him. Set in Tasmania and written for a young audience, Ugly introduces the reader to both the classic tale and a realistic view of wildlife in an unusual setting.

This was a surprisingly good read. As I started it, I was a little afraid that it would be so over-simplistic that it would come across as inane. But, actually, Donna Jo Napoli does an excellent job of getting down the rhythm of the animals she's writing for and about. They all use a simpler thought process--more direct, anyway--but surprisingly large vocabulary. She's obviously put a great deal of thought into how animals would realistically interact with their own kind and other species, as well as the things they would have deeper knowledge about. They are simple, not stupid. This would be a great read for younger children interested in animals, and I could happily recommend it to anyone that likes the original tale, as well.