Once upon a time, a mother duckling sat on her eggs with great impatience. How long would it be before they hatched? Finally, one summer day, the mother duckling watched as the eggs cracked, and her cute, yellow ducklings waddled into the world. She was filled with joy until she noticed that one egg, which was larger than all of the others, remained. After many hours, the egg cracked. A large, gray duckling emerged. The mother duck was horrified at the duckling's appearance. The mother duck's only comfort was that the ugly duckling could swim and dive under the water. As the ugly duckling grew, many animals in the pond criticized him. His feathers were too dark, his neck was too long, and his body was too big. His fellow ducklings refused to recognize that underneath the feathers, the ugly duckling was kind, good, and gentle. The ugly duckling shed many tears because none of the other animals would play with him.

Read this excerpt from the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.

One evening, there was a terrible storm. The wind howled, thunder shook the stone walls, and lightning filled the dark night sky. Through the pelting of the rain, there came a knock at the door. When the king opened the door, he saw a bedraggled girl, soaked to the skin and covered in mud. He ushered her into the castle so that she could warm herself by the fire.

"Why is a young servant girl like you wandering about on such a ferocious night?" queried the king.

The disheveled maiden looked at the king in disbelief. "I am a princess, come to see the prince," she explained, all the while shivering.

The king summoned his wife, the queen, for advice. The queen looked at the hideous creature in disbelief, thinking that no princess would ever allow herself to be found in such a state.

How do the authors illustrate the theme that people should not be judged based on their appearances?

Both authors show that the main characters are not afraid of getting wet and dirty in order to live active lives.
Both authors show the main characters being labeled in a negative manner based on their appearances.
Both authors showed the main characters exercising patience with other people.
Both authors showed the main characters wanting to make friends with others.