The Ugly Duckling twinkl.com
Once upon a time, a mother duck was waiting patiently for her eggs to hatch. twinkl.com
The eggs were white, all except one. twinkl.com
Soon the eggs began to hatch, and the duck became the proud mother of 5 little ducklings. twinkl.com
But one large egg was still in the nest.... twinkl.com
Finally, the last duckling hatched. Out came a baby boy bird. But he was different from the others. twinkl.com
He was an odd-looking thing. This bird was much bigger than the others. He was not yellow at all - he was dark gray from his head to his feet. And he walked with a funny wobble. twinkl.com
“Why are you different from us? Go away! ” twinkl.com
Nobody loves me because I am different. twinkl.com
“Why won’t they let me stay here?” said the Ugly Duckling to himself. He hung his head down low. “Ah, they are right. I should go. ” The ugly duckling left home to look for a place he belonged. twinkl.com
He came across some other birds, but they did not want to be friends with such an odd-looking duckling. twinkl.com
You’re ugly. You look weird. twinkl.com
The duckling was extremely upset and waddled away. It indeed lowered his self-esteem. twinkl.com
An old woman found the duckling and put him in her hutch. twinkl.com
The woman’s hen warned the duckling she planned to eat him. twinkl.com
The ugly duckling escaped and hid in some reeds. twinkl.com
He saw a flock of large white birds flying above and wished he was like them. twinkl.com
Winter came and the duckling was freezing. twinkl.com
But a farmer found him and kept him safe until spring. twinkl.com
Something wonderful had happened... When spring came, the farmer took the duckling to a pond and released him. twinkl.com
...the duckling had grown into a gorgeous swan! Everyone praised him because his fur was as white as snow. twinkl.com
He soon made lots of new friends and was the most magnificent swan of them all! twinkl.com