I love this story and the meaning behind it. While growing up, this duckling was made fun of for the way he looked because he was different from everyone else. He ends up on his own, but later returns as a beautiful swan. I believe the theme of this story can be viewed as a minor set back for a major comeback. Another theme can be seen as don't judge a book by its cover or that your outward appearance does not define you. As a kid, when reading this story, I was never fully aware of how impacting this would be in my later years. We are taught at a young age to never judge a book by its cover, and it is something we never need to forget as long as we live. Many other stories have done a spin off to this original story, which is good because it can be viewed from different plots. ( )

A duckling is born who doesn't look like any of his brothers and sisters. Other birds make fun of his looks. The ugly duckling feels all alone, but he soon meets some new birds he has more in common with than he thought. This is a wonderful folk tale about overcoming adversity. It teaches the lesson that accepting yourself is an important step to being happy. ( )