The Ugly Five

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)

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