To be born in a duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan's egg.
Hans Christian Andersen's
The Ugly Duckling
ranks among the most beloved and enduring stories in all of children's literature.
This edition combines the world-famous translation of H.B. Paull with two sets of classic illustrations, the engravings of Vilhelm Pedersen from the original Danish edition and Helen Stratton's illustrations from
The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen.
Both sets provide a beautiful and dramatic visual compliment to this simple but unforgettable story of the difficult transition from childhood to maturity.
Also included are vocabulary notes with pronunciations and definitions of some words that may be unfamiliar to grade school readers.