Review of "Ugly" by Donna Jo Napoli

Donna Jo Napoli revisits the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale of "The Ugly Duckling" by setting it in Tasmania and embellishing the original with a host of new characters from that region. It's a charming story still, of course, told with great empathy for the poor duckling who doesn't seem to fit in. Ms. Napoli revamps the story to be told in the voice of Ugly himself, and aims it at slightly older children (ages 9-12) with details of the new animals and their Australian habitat. Nicely done.