Other editions of book The Illustrated Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

It was so beautiful in the country. It was the summer time. The wheat fields were golden, the oats were green, and the hay stood in great stacks in the green meadows. The stork paraded about among them on his long red legs, chattering away in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his lady mother. All around the meadows and cornfields grew thick woods, and in the midst of the forest was a deep lake. Yes, it was beautiful, it was delightful in the country. In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farmhouse circled all about with deep canals; and from the walls down to the water's edge grew great burdocks, so high that under the tallest of them a little child might stand upright. The spot was as wild as if it had been in the very center of the thick wood.

Hans Christian Andersen's classic story sees new life in this newly illustrated book. A half dozen original illustrations are included in this book. The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better.

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in Odense, Denmark. The author is considered the father of the modern fairy tales. To honor his memory the International Children's Book Day is celebrated on April 2, the birthday of Hans Andersen. International Day. After him is also named the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the most relevant award of children’s literature, also known as the Nobel Prize for children's literature The tale “The Ugly Duckling” works the idea that there is a place that is right for us. In an offspring of beautiful ducklings, one and just one was too big, too clumsy and too ugly. Andersen, then, ask us to consider that “having being born in a duck yard is irrelevant, when one has come from swan’s egg”. The original name of the tale is "Den grimme Ælling" and it was first published in 1843.