The Ugly Duckling, illustrated by Jonathan Heale.

Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy-tale about a cygnet mistakenly hatched by a duck, who is convinced by the cruelty of his peers that he is ugly and abnormal, is retold here in free verse by Adrian Mitchell, and accompanied by gorgeous woodcut illustrations by Jonathan Heale. The effect is quite pleasing, with a narrative that reads well, and artwork that offers an immensely satisfying visual feast, sure to please woodcut lovers in particular.

This may, in fact, by my favorite edition of The Ugly Duckling, which is, admittedly, not saying much, as it has never ranked amongst my favorite fairy-tales. Still, Heale's illustrations are a real pleasure to behold, with their bold black outlines and lovely watercolor embellishments. I think I may look for more of his work! ( )