The Ugly Duckling Is A Swan

An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.

An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals in the barnyard before he grows into a beautiful swan.

The Ugly Duckling is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) translated into english by H.P. Paull (1812 - 1888). The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him 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. The Ugly Duckling was first published 11 November 1843, with three other tales by Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark to great critical acclaim. The tale has been adapted to various media including opera, musical, and animated film. The tale is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to fairy tales or folklore.

“The Ugly Duckling” is a classic story of a small, ugly duckling who is shunned by every animal and person he encounters—until he grows into a beautiful swan and finds others of his kind. This story’s message of the beauty inside everyone has been inspiring readers for hundreds of years, and a new generation of readers will discover it through this fresh retelling. Clear, simple text is accompanied by colorful illustrations. The close relationship between the text and illustrations is meant to aid in the development of reading comprehension skills. Even reluctant readers will enjoy exploring this classic story!

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.

Cara is so ugly, mirrors would rather break than show her reflection. Not even her own parents can deny her ugliness, and nothing can make up for the cruelty of her schoolmates. Tormented and tortured by the shallow people of Flock’s Rest, Cara’s life is miserable. Then Cara receives a shimmering note from some exotic place suggesting that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Cara wonders if her destiny has something to do with her recurring dreams of a beautiful green valley where the people are so accepting, her ugliness doesn’t matter. Soon, Cara discovers that her valley of dreams is real. It’s a place where the ugliest of ducklings can become swans. A swan, however, can have a serious taste for revenge . . . deadly revenge.

‘The ugly duckling is a swan.’ Thus ends the fairy tale of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen. However, until that beautiful day when it met its fellow swans, the little bird had to go through some tough times. And the ugly duckling is not the only protagonist that faced difficult moments before seeing a happy ending. There are countless fairy tales such as ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Haensel and Gretel’, just to name a few. ‘Rags-to-riches plots’ have been used by leaders and societies at all times throughout history to recount their own stories. Interestingly, turn­around stories have gained more and more ‘scientific interest’, also in ‘marketing’, ‘entrepreneurship’, and, most recently, even as a ‘leadership tool’. Apparently, we seem to like protagonists which successfully make their way through troubled times. But why? Is it because they might inspire or encourage us and give us hope for a good ending? Or is there anything else we can learn from the ugly duckling, Cinderella, and their fellow protagonists? To that end, the four short essays in the present book examine foundations, features, and actual applications of turn­around stories in various areas. The central aim of all of this is that turnaround stories may give entrepreneurs and leaders hope but also advice so that they, after all kinds of challenges and crises in their own lives, may eventually come to experience that the ‘ugly duckling is a swan.’