The story of a small duckling whom everyone thought to be ugly, before it grew up to be something else
Created & published on StoryJumper™ ©2025 StoryJumper, Inc.
All rights reserved. Sources: storyjumper.com/attribution
Preview audio:
storyj.mp/ab2gr9rfx46r
Once upon a time down on an old farm, lived a duck family.
2
And Mother Duck had been sitting on a clutch of new eggs.
3
One nice morning, the eggs hatched and out popped six chirpy ducklings. But one egg was bigger than the rest, and it didn't hatch.
4
How did it get there?
Mother Duck couldn't recall laying that seventh egg.
5
TOCK!
TOCK!
~
~
~
~
~
~
The little prisoner was pecking inside his shell.
6
Did I count the eggs wrongly?
Mother Duck wondered. But before she had time to think about it, the last egg finally hatched.
7
A strange looking duckling with gray feathers that should have been yellow gazed at a worried mother. The ducklings grew quickly, but Mother Duck had a secret worry.
8
I can't understand how this ugly duckling can be one of mine!
she said to herself, shaking her head as she looked at her last born.
9
Well, the gray duckling certainly wasn't pretty, and since he ate far more than his brothers, he was outgrowing them.
10
As the days went by, the poor ugly duckling became more and more unhappy...
11
His brothers didn't want to play with him, he was so clumsy, and all the farmyard folks simply laughed at him.
12
He felt sad and lonely, while Mother Duck did her best to console him.
13
Why are you so different from the others?
Poor little ugly duckling!
she would say.
And the ugly duckling felt worse than ever.
14
He secretly wept at night.
He felt nobody wanted him...
15
Nobody loves me, they all tease me!
Why am I different from my brothers?
16
Then one day, at sunrise, he ran away from the farmyard.
17
He stopped at a pond and began to question all the other birds.
Do you know of any ducklings with gray feathers like mine?
But everyone shook their heads in scorn.
18
We don't know anyone as ugly as you.
19
The ugly duckling did not lose heart, however, and kept on making inquiries.
20
He went to another pond, where a pair of large geese gave him the same answer to his question.
There are men with guns around here!
Go away! It's dangerous.
Don't stay here!
What's more, they warned him
21
Then one day, his travels took him near an old countrywoman's cottage.
22
Thinking he was a stray goose, she caught him.
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I'll put this in a hutch.
I hope it's a female and lays plenty of eggs!
said the old woman, whose eyesight was poor.
24
But the ugly duckling laid not a single egg.
25
Just wait!
If you don't lay eggs, the old woman will wring your neck and pop you into the pot!
The hen kept frightening him.
26
Hee! Hee!
I hope the woman cooks you, then I can gnaw at your bones!
And the cat chipped in
27
The poor ugly duckling was so scared that he lost his appetite, though the old woman kept stuffing him with food and grumbling
If you won't lay eggs, at least hurry up and get plump!
28
Oh, dear me!
I'll die of fright first!
And I did so hope someone would love me!
moaned the now terrified duckling.
29
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The story of a small duckling whom everyone thought to be ugly, before it grew up to be something else
Created & published on StoryJumper™ ©2025 StoryJumper, Inc.
All rights reserved. Sources: storyjumper.com/attribution
Preview audio:
storyj.mp/ab2gr9rfx46r
Once upon a time down on an old farm, lived a duck family.
2
And Mother Duck had been sitting on a clutch of new eggs.
3
One nice morning, the eggs hatched and out popped six chirpy ducklings. But one egg was bigger than the rest, and it didn't hatch.
4
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"The Ugly Duckling"
A duckling, considered ugly by others, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and finds his true identity as a swan.
(45 pages)
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