The Ugly Five

What do our readers think of The Ugly Five? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children enjoy the funny rhymes, colourful pictures, unusual animals and adorable babies, and many like joining in with repeated parts of the story. Some children find the rhythm or tricky animal names less easy than in other Julia Donaldson books, but they still enjoy the warm message about loving people for who they are.

What does the Pageticker team say about The Ugly Five?

Lively rhymes and wonderfully expressive illustrations that you'd expect from Julia Donaldson sit beautifully alongside an unusual choice of animal heroes who proudly celebrate what makes them different. This is a warm, funny read-aloud for young children, with plenty to spot and talk about, while its message about self-acceptance and loving others will appeal to families. Some of the animal vocabulary may need explaining to younger children, and the word “ugly” offers a useful opportunity to discuss how labels can affect people.

Genres

What is The Ugly Five about?

Meet the wildebeest, warthog, vulture, hyena and marabou stork - the 'Ugly Five' of the African savannah! As they strut through the grasslands, they celebrate their unusual looks, cheered on by their adorable babies who love them just as they are. Inspired by real animals, this lively picture book is a joyful tale about self-acceptance and seeing beauty in everyone.

About the author

Julia Donaldson is a much-loved British author who has written many wonderful books for children. She is best known for creating 'The Gruffalo', a story about a clever mouse and a magical creature. Julia often works with illustrator Axel Scheffler to bring her fun and imaginative stories to life.

Discussion ideas around The Ugly Five

Beauty and difference: The animals are called the Ugly Five, but their babies see them differently. What makes someone beautiful or special besides their looks?

Proud of who you are: Which animal seems most comfortable with its unusual features, and what can we learn from the way it behaves?

Kind words and unkind labels: How might the animals feel when they hear the word “ugly”? What kinder words could people use when something looks different?

Animal facts: Which of the five animals would you most like to learn about in real life, and what would you want to find out?

Families and love: Why do the babies love their parents so much? What do families do to show that they care for one another?