The Ugly Five

Five animals of the African savanna, the wildebeest, warthog, spotted hyena, lappet-faced vulture and marabou stork, are often called the Ugly Five. This picture book follows them as they show that a creature doesn't need a grand mane or a fearsome roar to be loved. Its message is about accepting and taking pride in your own appearance.

Julia Donaldson tells the story in bouncy verse, and Axel Scheffler's detailed, playful pictures carry much of the humor. Donaldson is also known for The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, and Scheffler illustrated both.