Review by Booklist Review
Everyone appreciates the lion's splendor and the zebra's stripes, but what about some of their lesser-known peers? The, well, less impressive creatures? In jaunty, boisterous rhyme, this picture book offers five overlooked African animals their time in the sun. Without a trace of shame, the five proudly introduce themselves, embracing their "ugly" features. First up is the wildebeest ("My ungainly appearance is second to none"), followed by the hyena ("Who could be uglier? Who could look meaner?"), the lappet-faced vulture ("My beak is gigantic, and, what's more, I stink"), and the warthog ("People are shocked by my deafening snorts"). The marabou stork rounds things out ("My legs, long and skinny, are covered in poo, / And I'll eat almost anything, even a shoe") as the five happily parade through the plains until a surprise ending reaffirms their worth. Color portraits showcase each animal's best attributes (despite their statements, some are almost cuddly), and a final double-page spread introduces other animals from the same habitat. Science-light, but a nice message about the eye of the beholder.--Maggie Reagan Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Certain animals seem to be the work of Mother Nature on an off day. Here, frequent collaborators Donaldson and Scheffler (The Gruffalo) showcase the wildebeest, the spotted hyena, the lappet-faced vulture, the warthog, and the marabou stork. One by one, they come together for a stroll on a savannah, owning the word ugly with pride. "My legs, long and skinny, are covered in poo," the stork says. "And I'll eat almost anything, even a shoe." Scheffler, in a departure from his usual anthropomorphized characters, clearly had fun with these more realistic, warts-and-all portrayals: his hyena, for example, talks to readers with a mouth full of bloody bones from a fresh kill. Still, there's something endearingly human about the characters' confident self-awareness and easy camaraderie, a winning liveliness in their eyes. Readers won't be totally surprised when the final pages reveal that the Ugly Five have some very big fans: their own very cute babies ("You give us our food/ And help cheer us up when we're in a bad mood"). It's a welcome twist on the expression "a face only a mother could love," and a heartwarming tribute to the child side of the parent-child bond. Ages 4-8. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This rhyming book takes place on the African plain and introduces a collection of animals not known for attractiveness, but beloved by their children nonetheless. It begins with an introduction to the wildebeest, and she soon sings a song that is repeated with variations throughout the book, "I'm the ugly one, I'm the ugly one. I'm the ugliest animal under the sun. My ungainly appearance is second to none. I'm the ugly one, I'm the ugly one." Wildebeest meets up with spotted hyena, lappet-faced vulture, warthog, and marabou stork, and the song reflects each addition. Scheffler is a frequent artist for Donaldson and has the perfect approach for her lighthearted prose. The "ugly" beasts are not ugly at all, but endearing, with wide-eyed faces expressing playfulness while picking through garbage, crunching bones, shredding carrion, and wallowing in mud. Comical illustrations in bright, but natural colors, are unadorned by text or borders. Each features a natural habitat with plenty of creatures and small details for observant eyes to seek. The satisfying and happy ending for the actually "lovely five" is depicted in a richly hued spread. Safari notes follow the story, which is prefaced by an author's note. VERDICT Playful and positive, this book is an introduction to creatures of the African plain and a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.-Lisa Taylor, Florida State College, Jacksonville © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This picture-book African safari doesnt stop for the usual photogenic animals (lions, giraffes, elephants, etc.). Here, frequent collaborators Donaldson and Scheffler (Zog and the Flying Doctors, rev. 11/17, among others) take a detour to introduce five lesser-known strange-looking specimens. The patterned rhyming text lets the animals speak for themselves; each one describes its unusual features and unsavory behaviors. The wildebeest calls herself the ugliest animal under the sun. / My ungainly appearance is second to none. The lappet-faced vulture proclaims, At mealtimes my habits are really quite vile: / I much prefer food thats been dead for a while. As each new member joins the group, the animals update their song: Were the ugly three; Were the ugly four; and so on. In a grassland setting teeming with details, Schefflers charmingly homely characters have lots of personality even as the hyena tucks into a fresh kill or the marabou storks legs are described as covered in poo. Of course, its these details that will delight the intended audience. A sweet conclusion casts the ugly five in a more favorable light: to their loving and grateful babies, they are not the ugly five but the lovely five / Youre quite the most beautiful creatures alive. A final double-page spread lists and pictures more animals native to the African savanna. A lighthearted celebration of unconventional creatures. kitty Flynn (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Fan favorites Donaldson and Scheffler (Zog and the Flying Doctors, 2017, etc.) return with a rhyming introduction to the so-called ugliest animals on the African savanna.The story begins with the "Big Five" (elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard) and friends lounging about being "glorious," "cool," "fine," "divine," "graceful," and "great." When a wildebeest enters the scene, the other animals don't label her, but she proclaims herself "the ugly one" (though the description of her physical appearance doesn't entirely match the illustration). The wildebeest doesn't seem bothered to be ugly and soon meets the hyena, who she thinks is even uglier than she, and the hyena concurs. The wildebeest invites the hyena to "Join the club," and a pattern emerges. As they walk through the savanna, they're joined by a vulture, a warthog, and a marabou stork. Each time a new animal joins the bunch, they modify their silly song about how ugly they are. Readers are sure to enjoy singing along to this, though making the rest of the text rhyme is sometimes a stretch. At the end, their children proclaim them to be good parents and the loveliest of animals. Scheffler's signature illustrations add humor to the story and bring the setting to life.This tale of celebrating inner beauty should appeal to Donaldson and Scheffler's fans as well as to animal lovers. (author's note, picture glossary) (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
