The Ugly Truckling

Rating:
Summary: Ugly Duckling Revisited
Review: "The Ugly Truckling" is a simplified adaptation of the classic fairy tale, "The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Andersen. While the original duckling story offers some suspense, this story will be obvious to all but the very youngest of children.

A small airplane is somehow born to a family of trucks and fails to fit in while the rest of the family performs truck-like activities, like hauling loads. Obviously, we as readers know that the "ugly truckling" isn't a truck, but a plane, as evidenced by the illustrations. All we have to do is watch the plane ask other machinery, like a tractor and windmill, what it is. Finally, the little plane looks up and knows where it belongs when it sees a group of planes flying overhead. It then happily flies away into the sunset. Children with a love for trucks, planes and other machinery will likely adore this simple story that accommodates a toddler's short attention span. Children may also like predicting the story's solution on the first page as they recognize the plane. The illustrations are bright and convey the wide open space of the prairie.

Overall, a sweet and simple story recommended for the toddler and preschool sets. Older children will be bored.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best
Review: clever, cute, simle story with beautiful artwork.

love it sooooo much!

Rating:
Summary: Not for a family that has adopted
Review: I realize this is a spin off the classic The Ugly Duckling but I would think in this day and age it would be played up to respect and recognize that not all family members look alike now. Interracial marriages/families and those families that adopt a child of a different race may want to avoid this book.

The little airplane realizes he doesn't look like his truckling siblings as they peer at him and taunt him for not fitting in or looking like them. He ventures out and meets others asking if he is one of them and still doesn't fit in until he sees more airplanes. Then he feels he has met his family and where he belongs. This book could create confusion and feelings of not belonging to any child that does not look like his/her parents or siblings.

That said, I loved the illustration in this book. Kudos for that but none for the author for not modernizing this story to recognize diversity.

Rating:
Summary: an amazing book
Review: the story is profoundly charming and the paintings are simply breathtaking.
Few kid's books out there have both and I would recommend this one to
any one who's kid loves trucks and airplanes.

Rating:
Summary: A Five Star Read
Review: This revitalization of an old classic is wonderful. The Ugly Truckling is beautifully illustrated and spectacularly told. It's great to have a classic reworked and targeted for a new generation of children. I bought the book for my nephew who loved it!!! Trucks and airplanes are a much better fit for him than ducklings and farm animals so this book was perfect! He made me read it twice the first evening!!! We're eagerly awaiting this author's next book!