Here's why:
* Magical Elements: The story involves a transformation, where the duckling undergoes a physical change to become beautiful. This element of magic is common in fairy tales.
* Moral Lesson: The story teaches a valuable lesson about inner beauty and self-acceptance. This is a characteristic of many fairy tales.
* Animal Characters: The story features talking animals, another hallmark of fairy tales.
* Simple Plot: The story follows a simple, easy-to-understand plot with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Although it's not strictly a traditional Grimm or Andersen fairy tale, it shares many of the same characteristics and themes.