This graphic novel for young readers ages 5 to 7 updates the story of an ugly duckling becoming a beautiful swan—but the odd duck out is actually a dragon!
It’s the classic ugly duckling tale—but this time around, the little one turns out not to be a swan, but a dragon. And when their duckling siblings find themselves in trouble, it's our little fire-breathing friend who saves the day. Whereas Hans Christian Andersen's original is synonymous with inner beauty, Frank Cammuso’s loving update turns it into a parable of inner strength.
Book Details
Format:
Hardcover
Price:
18.99 CAD / 13.99 USD
Published: 08/05/2025
ISBN: 9781662665332
Imprint:
TOON Books
Page Count: 40
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Grades:
Grades K-2
Ages:
5-7 years
"In this appealing spin on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling,” a mama duck finds a strange egg in her nest. When it hatches, a red, reptilian creature entirely unlike its siblings emerges... Appealing in its simplicity, this graphic novel offers uplifting themes of embracing one’s unique qualities and recognizing positive differences in others. Brightly colored illustrations are expressive and gently rounded, reminiscent of classic mid-20th-century animation... Sure to please both animal lovers and fairy-tale fans, this graphic novel for emerging readers is a recommended purchase for collections."—School Library Journal
"Blending the feel of classic Disney comics, a venerable fairy tale, and Are You My Mother? plotting, Cammuso transforms an identity quest into a funny but pointed reminder that family is about connection. "—Publishers Weekly
"A cute retelling of a classic story we know and love. Nort doesn’t look like a duckling, but his mother still accepts him as her own. But that doesn’t shake his feeling of wanting to understand WHAT he is. A silly and hopeful story about belonging and self-discovery!" --Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC