The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur: A Prehistoric Tale (May 1, 2011)

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Once upon a time, seven tiny duck beaks pecked their way out of their eggs, but the eighth egg was a little bit different. What emerged wasn't a duck at all--he was a dinosaur!

Everyone notices how different he is. He doesn't waddle! His teeth are too big! Feeling ugly and outcast, the dinosaur duckling leaves his family and ventures out on his own. Again and again he tries to make friends, but everyone runs away! Over time he grows bigger and bigger but still can't seem to find his rightful place. One day he unexpectedly comes across other dinosaurs that look just like him, and he discovers he's really a T. rex!

This humorous and charming take on The Ugly Duckling also includes an author's note about the dinosaurs depicted and the early ancestors of modern ducks who lived side by side, and features scientifically accurate illustrations of the creatures.


Praise for Ugly Duckling Dinosaur
"Facial characterization excels. A sure winner for those dino-hungry readers." - Kirkus Reviews

"The extensive appended notes, including details of recent fossil findings, and a bibliography will grab dinosaur buffs and widen this title's potential for curricular sharing." - Booklist

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-When Mama Duck's recalcitrant egg finally hatches, everyone finds the baby's sharp claws, large teeth, and swooshing tail a puzzling sight. Realizing he is different, the ugly duckling heads out into his prehistoric world. There, after trying to make friends with lizards, turtles, and other creatures, he comes upon Mother Tyrannosaurus rex, who welcomes him home. This unusual takeoff on a much-retold Andersen tale is hampered by overly exaggerated facial expressions and harsh colors. However, if read aloud, the dialogue and variant font styles (some in color) may give rise to vocal responses-especially from dinosaur enthusiasts. Of more interest may be the appended two-page author's note that includes scientific paintings and information about the dinosaurs, flora, and fauna mentioned in the story. However, young children will probably need adult interpretation to understand the back matter.-Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Combining a favorite fairy tale with up-to-date paleontology, this picture book about the world of dinosaurs stars a young Tyrannosaurus rex who is an outsider until he finds a family at last. Once upon a time. a huge duckling explodes from its egg, and as he stomps awkwardly behind his seven perfect little duckling siblings, they reject him as a featherless monster with enormous teeth and jaws. Rejected, he flees into the forest, where he grows so huge that every animal runs from him, including lizards, pteranodons, stegosauruses, and more. Then a majestic Tyrannosaurus rex takes him home, and he finds a family at last with young dinosaurs just like him. Children will enjoy this fractured version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling, illustrated in cartoon-style, double-page, watercolor scenes that create expressive characters from the prehistoric animal cast. The extensive appended notes, including details of recent fossil findings, and a bibliography will grab dinosaur buffs and widen this title's potential for curricular sharing.--Rochman, Haze. Copyright 2010 Booklist

Horn Book Review

A Tyrannosaurus rex egg hatches in a duck's nest. The "duckling" fails to fit in with his duck family and can't seem to befriend other animals (lizards, Stegosauruses, etc.). He's certain he'll never "belong anywhere" until--"STOMP! STOMP!"--a mama T. rex appears. The story, illustrated with cartoony characters, ends predictably and abruptly; the appended author and artist notes are more satisfying. Reading list. Bib. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Andersen's classic fairy tale gets a prehistoric setting and cast of characters. When her eighth egg finally hatches, late, mother duck and her seven ducklings are shocked at his rather different appearancehe is a T. Rex, not a Vegavis iaai, as they are. Even a mother's love is not enough to assuage his awareness of his difference, so he runs away. After countless encounters with other creatures fleeing at the sight of him, he finally meets a kindly mother T. Rex who sets him straight and takes him in. Backmatter includes detailed scientific drawings of the featured dinosaurs, an artist's note, bibliography and suggestions for further reading. The author's note explains how "ducks" and dinosaurs lived in the same time periodrecently discovered fossil evidence marks Vegavis iaai as an ancestor to today's ducks and geese. Kennedy's cartoonish watercolors nicely balance the ugly "duckling's" good intentions with his slightly threatening appearance and clumsiness, helping readers empathize with him. Facial characterization excels, from the nasty neighbor who can't keep her comments to herself to the hope written all over the ugly "duckling's" face when he tries to befriend a group of Deinonychus. A sure winner for those dino-hungry readers. (Fractured fairy tale. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.