The Ugly Duckling

You know the tragic story: an egg is separated from its mother.  It's eagerly adopted, hatched, and comforted by a mother duck who fiercely protects it against the tauntings of others.  However, eventually the duckling is heckled away by his brothers and sisters.  He seeks out to fend for himself.  Driven from one home to the next, he finally arrives at pond/lake where he admires the beauty of the swans . . . only then does he discover the truth about himself.

Jerry Pinkney's illustrations (c. 1999) startle with the beauty and splendor of the natural world.  Pinkney sparks sympathy and sensitivity through his strong yet graceful watercolors, which received the 2000 Caldecott Medal.  Three-time Caldecott award winning Pinkney proves himself a master at his craft, so don't miss out on this book.

Jerry Pinkney

You MUST check out Jerry Pinkney's books.  This is a non-negotiable.  You're going to fall in love with his illustrations.  The cover jackets do not begin to give this artist credit.  His illustrations are haunting in that they remain imprinted in your mind.

For the pure enjoyment of illustration, try The Lion and the Mouse.  Since it doesn't contain any text, it's a fun book to have your children narrate to you.  Enjoy what they come up with!

I would also suggest the book entitled God Bless the Child.  You'll be intrigued by Pinkney's interpretation of Billie Holiday's song.  Don't neglect to listen to a recording of Holiday singing "God Bless the Child."

My kids liked The Ugly Duckling, Little Red Riding Hood, The Little Red Hen, and Noah's Ark; yes, honestly, the list could go on and on (for a complete listing, refer to the website below).  Look into what your library or bookstore (because you will want to own a Pinkney) has available.  I would love to hear your feedback about which ones are your family's favorite!

Note: take time to surf through Pinkney's website: http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html   And when you do, please click on "Learning Differences" -- you'll be amazed!  Also, I think it's noteworthy that Pinkney has won several Caldecott Medals & Honors!