<p><i>The Ugly Duckling</i> is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875).</p><p> The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his surroundings until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better. <i>The Ugly Duckling</i> was first published on November 11th, 1843 with three other tales by Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark to great critical acclaim. The tale is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to fairy or folklore.</p><p> Optimized for Kindle devices and featuring Panel Zoom facility.</p><i><p> Lovingly created from 1953 to 1969, Classics Illustrated Junior continues to bring joy and wonder to young children through beautifully-illustrated adaptations of the world’s most beloved fairy tales and stories by the world’s greatest authors.</p><p>A collection of Classics Illustrated Junior books is a great way to encourage reading and adventure in any young child.</p></i>