Review — The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale    SLJ REVIEWS — 9/01/2008   Every full moon in the Northern Piney Woods, the animals gather to hear Maynard Moose tell his Mother Moose Tales in “old Moose Speech.” The glossary begins with a tongue-in-cheek “Parental Warning” about “moose grammar, spelling, and usage, all of which have been known to scrumble up the human brain!” Poor little moose wanders away and falls asleep in a nest with five ducky eggs. “Boy, I hope the other ones will turn out better” is Mommy Ducky’s reaction when she sees him. The story line echoes Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling” as the “uglified ducky” tries his best to waddle, quack, and swim, with humorous results. Predictably, all ends well, and Maynard Moose closes his story with a twist on the usual moral: If you don’t fit into your “fambly…that does not mean you are uglified…. It just means you have not found out what you really are yet.” Stimson’s colorful illustrations are a riot, featuring stylized shapes, funny expressions, and animated scenes. A CD of the story performed hilariously by Claflin is delightful. This fresh, lively story is laugh-out-loud funny.–Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Title Details: The Uglified Ducky Author: Willy Claflin Illustrator: James Stimson Interest Level: GR PreK-3 #   #   # About August House Recently recognized as one of "America's 101 Top Independent Publishers," August House is a highly-acclaimed and award-winning multimedia publisher of children's stories and folktale anthologies. August House's is based in Atlanta, GA. August House Media Contact Rob Cleveland 404-442-4422