A cute, fresh take on an old story. Joe and Jean Duckling are surprised when their new addition John is born and he turns out to be a pug. He tries desperately to fit in with the other ducklings, but is derided at every turn. His parents try to convince him that he should just be himself and the others will like him but he continues to try to be something he is not, going so far as to wear a swan costume. It is only when the ducklings are threatened that John learns that being true to who he is is the key to acceptance.
The illustrations are fun, and the lesson of the story a valuable one, and the fact that much of the tale is told in rhyme will appeal to the young audience for this book.

An interesting idea that didn't quite click for me or Miss Five in terms of the writing and story. Good illustrations, but the writing that went along with it didn't really capture our attention or make us want to re-read over and over like you would want with a kids book.

The message had potential but I was not a fan of the use of ugly and ugly-wugly throughout the entire book. While I know it's a retelling of the Ugly Duckling, I think there are better choices out there. A miss for me.

This was a really cute book. It's basically Rudolf the red nosed reindeer, but with ducks and pugs. The pug has to deal with the fact that he is different from his parents and the community around him ostracizes him. Of course until they need his help. Then they finally celebrate him and learn how to be like him.

Cute new take on the ugly duckling. The pictures are bright and colourful and the rhymes are great. My 2 little ones really enjoyed it.

The Pugly Duckling is a creative new take on the Ugly Duckling. Funny and heartwarming it will appeal to children and children at heart.

I initially picked this book because I'm a pug lover and I was not disappointed by this at all. This was a super cute story with a beautiful message! Stories for children to be true to themselves and to be happy with who they are, are very important and will always need to be told! The rhyming and word play were really well done and I loved how the story flowed. The illustrations aren't my favorite, but I'm honestly a little picky when it comes to artwork. All in all, a delightful picture book with a worthwhile lesson for kids!

Teachable moments: Don’t try to be someone your not.
Be yourself and you will shine.
Always accept who you are.
Importance of family.
Hard concept to get past for me was that a dog came out of a egg?.????????? How to explain this to a young child??.....
The pictures of the pug are truly adorable!
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really wanted to love this book. As a dog lover, a cute pug in a duckling costume really drew me in. I just could not get into it. First of all, dogs don't hatch from eggs. There is no explanation of how the dog gets into an egg. I would have been okay with a dog sneaking into the nest or swapping places with the duckling. Anything other than hatching from an egg.

Secondly, the pictures were cute, but the story just didn't appeal to me. Even if I could forget about the dog hatching from an egg.

In all, there might be some kids who like this story just for the cute pictures of a pug. But I just cannot get into the story.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Pugly Duckling" by Carla Siravo is a message-driven story for kids. The story shows how a puppy was born out of a duck's egg struggle to get his own identity. The book delivers its message properly. It shows our kids that instead of trying to mimic others, we should focus on our strengths.

The illustrations and at work is wonderful. The use of color combinations and cute artwork will attract kids to the book.

This book has a great message...just be yourself. A dog was trying to be a swan and in the end he saved the day by just being a dog. I read this to my young son..he really liked it. The illustrations were very colorful and vibrant. I would buy this book for any mom with young kids.

A sweet new take on "The Ugly Duckling" featuring John, the pug who just wants to be a beautiful swan -- until his pugliness is exactly what's needed to save the day. The illustrations are bright and eye-catching, and the rhyming text is fun and easy for read-aloud story time. Wonderful moral to the story about loving yourself as you are and being true. A book I will definitely be gifting to the children in my life. Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

A sweet story with a lesson about being different, but being accepted, with colourful illustrations.

A cute but slight picture book. It will probably be appreciated more by children than by their parents.

Read this to my three year old and he loved it, such a sweet book.
Was fun to read with lots of rhyming words, a story about accepting yourself no matter how different you are to others and learning to love your differences.

My daughter and I read The Pugly Duckling together. It was such a fun book with a very important message. John is different from his parents and his other friends, but he thinks he needs to be just like them. He finally realizes that being himself is the way to go.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #IndigoRiver Publishing for the #gifted copy of the book.

Great storyline about learning to just be yourself not always trying to be something your not, but the language and illustrations just didn't quite work for me.

This is a delightful book that will tug at your emotions. Joe and Jean Duck yearn for a baby duckling.

"Every night, they wished and they hoped and they prayed for a fuzzy-wuzzy, cuddly-wuddly, darling baby duckling."

One very special night, one very special delivery arrives. It is an egg and it is ugly-wugly. None-the-less they are ecstatic over its arrival and they carefully nurture it until the egg cracks. What emerges is not quite what the endearing couple expects. Out springs a hairy paw, two flip-flop ears and a wrinkled snout... and the sound "WOOF!"

Joe and Jean are extremely surprised but they love the little guy so much and call him John. They believe that perhaps one day John will grow into a beautiful swan.

John wants so much to fit in with the other chicks but he is ridiculed and teased by the others. He is totally unaccepted. Then one day everything changes and John becomes the hero, the superhero supreme, revered highly by the other peeps around him. How did that happen?

This fun story is about being true to yourself and accepting your uniqueness as beautiful. This is a twisted tale of the classic story "The Ugly Duckling." John is adorable and you instantly fall in love with him. The book is inspiring and everyone ( both young and old ) enjoys a happily every after story. The illustrations are colourful, expressive and spot on enhancing the narrative. I highly recommend " The Pugly Duckling."

Cute and simple. This is a simple twist on the ugly duckling story in which the duckling is a dog. This is best for kiddos who like things absurd and enjoy rhyming stories.

This was such a fun book! I loved how the “ugly duckling” was a pug which is so cute. I really enjoyed this book and how it teaches you to just be yourself no matter what.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.