Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny ogre fable flips the idea of a beauty standard.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
PRETTY UGLY begins with a little wart-nosed Anna Von Ogre who does everything right: She stomps on flowers, throws dirt into the house, talks with her mouth full and eats nails for dinner. But when she makes a cute bunny face, her ogre mom tells her to be careful "or one day your face will stick like that." And that's just what happens when she makes "the scariest face of all" -- that of a pretty human girl. Her mom assures her, "We still love you. " And her grandma tells her, "Real beauty is on the inside." From there she takes matters into her own hand -- literally -- for a comic horror twist ending.
Is It Any Good?
This funny story of a young ogre who's afraid her new human face makes her ugly delivers positive messages about the relativity of beauty. Pretty Ugly also stresses that a person's true beauty is on the inside, not on the surface. Then it takes this outlandish fantasy into a horror realm with a gross-out ending that will make kids squeal as well as laugh. Kids raised on Goosebumps and Shrek will have no trouble enjoying a monster family that acts like a conventional human one -- except opposite in every way but being loving and supportive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Pretty Ugly deals with the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Have you ever considered a person or thing pretty that someone else thought was ugly? Why do you think that's possible?
What does it mean to say "Real beauty is on the inside"?
Which picture in Pretty Ugly is your favorite? Which is the funniest?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Ian Falconer
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Integrity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Toon Books
- Publication date : February 27, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 7
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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