--- product_id: 66247941 title: "The Ugly Five" price: "AED 61" currency: AED in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/66247941-the-ugly-five store_origin: AE region: United Arab Emirates --- # Top 3 in Bedtime & Dream Books Bestseller rank #2 in Children's Birds Top 11 in Children's Mammals The Ugly Five **Price:** AED 61 **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?** AED 61 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/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 Discover the delightful story of the "ugly" animals on the African savannah, celebrating self-acceptance from the bestselling author of The Gruffalo. Review: Lovely book - A good story/poem with a nice moral. Fab author she is a childhood staple in my family, we have many of her books. 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. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | 1407184636 | | Best Sellers Rank | 216 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 2 in Children's Bedtime & Dream Books 2 in Children's Books on Birds 8 in Children's Books on Mammals | | Customer reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (6,813) | | Dimensions | 22.9 x 0.4 x 30 cm | | Edition | 1st | | ISBN-10 | 9781407184630 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1407184630 | | Item weight | 1.05 kg | | Language | English | | Print length | 32 pages | | Publication date | 14 Jun. 2018 | | Publisher | Alison Green Books | | Reading age | 2 - 5 years, from customers | ## Images ![The Ugly Five - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81EMS2iFe4L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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. ## 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.ae/products/66247941-the-ugly-five](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/66247941-the-ugly-five) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Arab Emirates* *Store origin: AE* *Last updated: 2026-05-16*