The Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

When you see the names Donaldson and Scheffler on the front cover of a picture book instantly you know it’ll be a hit and this unusual story is no exception. Older children will enjoy reading this tale which explores the concept of beauty in a refreshing way. A focus on Africa’s majestic Big Five animals is turned on its head as Donaldson and Scheffler place the spotlight on a cast of aesthetically-challenged creatures as opposed to their ‘pretty’ and famous African counterparts. Although the notion that beauty is in the eye of the beholder may not be a new one, the novel approach taken by this creative partnership certainly is, with the originality of its subject matter “second to none”.