--- product_id: 66247941 title: "The Ugly Five" price: "€ 11.49" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/66247941-the-ugly-five store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Top 3 in Bedtime & Dream Books Bestseller rank #2 in Children's Birds Top 11 in Children's Mammals The Ugly Five **Price:** € 11.49 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Embrace the beauty of being 'ugly'—where every story is a celebration of YOU! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Ugly Five - **How much does it cost?** € 11.49 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/66247941-the-ugly-five) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Award-Winning Author:** From the creator of The Gruffalo, a beloved childhood staple that guarantees quality storytelling and timeless appeal. - • **Celebrate Uniqueness:** A heartwarming tale that champions self-acceptance and diversity, perfect for nurturing empathy in young minds. - • **Top-Ranked Bestseller:** Ranked #2 in Children's Books on Birds and #3 in Bedtime & Dream Books—join thousands of families who trust this classic. - • **Stunning Illustrations:** Vibrant, captivating artwork that brings the African savannah and its 'ugly' animals to life, making bedtime magical. - • **Perfect Bedtime Companion:** A soothing, poetic story that calms and inspires, ideal for nightly reading rituals that create lasting memories. ## Overview The Ugly Five is a bestselling children's book by the acclaimed author of The Gruffalo, ranked top 3 in Bedtime & Dream Books and top 2 in Children's Books on Birds. It features a poetic story and vibrant illustrations celebrating self-acceptance through the charming 'ugly' animals of the African savannah, making it a beloved bedtime favorite with a 4.7-star rating from over 6,700 reviews. ## Description The funny and joyful picture book from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog . 'Morning had dawned on the African plain. The lion lay grooming his glorious mane. The kudu looked cool and the rhino looked fine. The bright pink flamingos looked simply divine. The zebra looked graceful; the leopard look great. Oh what a picture of beauty - but wait!' Who's that singing on the savannah? The wildebeest, warthog, vulture, hyena and marabou stork swagger proudly across the savannah, rejoicing in their ugliness - and delighting their babies, who think they're perfect just the way they are. Inspired by the real-life Ugly Five safari animals, this gorgeous picture book is a celebration of animals who are often rather unloved. Shiny foil highlights on the cover makes this a special gift for toddlers A funny and comical picture book from the UK's number one picture book author and illustrator Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page with lots of details to spot Full of fabulous animals! Celebrates being yourself, family and friendship From the creators of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog, which have all been made into animated films The animated film of The Scarecrows' Wedding stars voice artists including Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey, The Trip) voicing Reginald Rake, Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters, Wild Rose) as Betty O'Barley, Domhnall Gleeson (About Time, Alice and Jack) as Harry O'Hay, all led by Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses, Hotel Rwanda) as the Narrator. Look out for Jonty Gentoo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler in 2024. Praise for The Ugly Five : 'Donaldson's exuberant verse and Scheffler's strong, inimitable style are splendidly suited to these underrated, cheerful grotesques, and evoke the love between parents and children of every species' Guardian 'Another fabulous story for two- to eighty-year olds ... What bliss from the creators of The Gruffalo' The Oldie 'Funny, catchy and gleeful ... it's irresistible rhymes trip off the tongue ... Axel's pictures are witty and full of character' BBC Wildlife Magazine Review: Funny, Heartwarming, and a Joy to Read Aloud - What an absolute gem of a book! The Ugly Five is everything you’d expect from the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler duo — rhythmic, funny, and packed with heart. We’ve read this countless times already and it hasn’t lost its charm. The story follows five African animals that aren’t traditionally “beautiful” — the wildebeest, warthog, hyena, lappet-faced vulture, and marabou stork — but they learn to embrace their uniqueness and worth, and it sends such a strong and positive message to little ones. The illustrations are stunning, full of character and humour. And the board book format is sturdy — perfect for younger children who love flipping pages on their own. ⸻ ✅ Pros 🦓 Great message about self-love and embracing what makes you different 📚 Rhyming text makes it fun to read aloud 🎨 Beautiful illustrations by Axel Scheffler 👶 Gift edition board book is durable and perfect for toddlers 🤣 Kids love the animal sounds and silly moments ⸻ ❌ Cons 🤏 A bit shorter than some other Donaldson books — would love even more! ⸻ Overall: A brilliant story with laughs, learning, and love. Whether you’re building a Julia Donaldson collection or just want a thoughtful gift for a child, The Ugly Five is a wonderful pick. Review: Lovely story, great value - Love reading this to my kids. Great value too. ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 224 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 2 in Children's Books on Birds 4 in Children's Bedtime & Dream Books 7 in Children's Books on Mammals | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 6,821 Reviews | ## Images ![The Ugly Five - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91Clnq6AseL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Funny, Heartwarming, and a Joy to Read Aloud *by B***R on 18 July 2025* What an absolute gem of a book! The Ugly Five is everything you’d expect from the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler duo — rhythmic, funny, and packed with heart. We’ve read this countless times already and it hasn’t lost its charm. The story follows five African animals that aren’t traditionally “beautiful” — the wildebeest, warthog, hyena, lappet-faced vulture, and marabou stork — but they learn to embrace their uniqueness and worth, and it sends such a strong and positive message to little ones. The illustrations are stunning, full of character and humour. And the board book format is sturdy — perfect for younger children who love flipping pages on their own. ⸻ ✅ Pros 🦓 Great message about self-love and embracing what makes you different 📚 Rhyming text makes it fun to read aloud 🎨 Beautiful illustrations by Axel Scheffler 👶 Gift edition board book is durable and perfect for toddlers 🤣 Kids love the animal sounds and silly moments ⸻ ❌ Cons 🤏 A bit shorter than some other Donaldson books — would love even more! ⸻ Overall: A brilliant story with laughs, learning, and love. Whether you’re building a Julia Donaldson collection or just want a thoughtful gift for a child, The Ugly Five is a wonderful pick. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lovely story, great value *by J***N on 30 April 2026* Love reading this to my kids. Great value too. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lovely book *by B***A on 21 February 2026* A good story/poem with a nice moral. Fab author she is a childhood staple in my family, we have many of her books. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Ugly Five - The Highway Rat [Paperback] [Jul 07, 2016] Julia Donaldson (author), Axel Scheffler (illustrator) - Stick Man --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/66247941-the-ugly-five](https://www.desertcart.at/products/66247941-the-ugly-five) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-06-03*