Happy Birthday, Hans Christian Andersen!
by Marjorie R. Hancock
Preschool through elementary school
On April 2, 1805, in a quaint cottage on a cobblestone street in Odense, Denmark, the master of the fairy-tale genre was born—Hans Christian Andersen. As the bicentennial of his birth draws near, it seems appropriate to revisit his early life, his personal and professional struggles, his lifelong pursuit of fame, and his ultimate recognition as an international celebrity and creator of more than 150 fairy tales. To read the tales of H. C. Andersen (as he is known in Denmark) is to discover the joys and disappointments of his own fairy-tale life and to hear his distinctive storytelling voice. As a penniless child, Hans was a loner—busy reading, listening to his father’s stories, singing, and playing with his toy theater. Often tormented by bullies, young Hans stayed away from school. At age 17, he was sent to a Latin school outside the city and was put in a class with 11-year-olds, where he developed his writing and language skills. In 1835 Andersen published his first four fairy tales in a paper booklet: The Princess and the Pea, The Tinderbox, Little Claus and Big Claus, and Little Ida’s Flowers. These original tales became enormously popular.
Nye Eventyr (New Fairy Tales), published in 1845, included The Ugly Duckling and The Nightingale. Andersen often called his life a fairy tale, and many of his stories reveal aspects of his own experiences in some guise.
As Andersen gained fame for his charming storytelling, he became a frequent dinner guest of royal heads of Europe, who enjoyed his company and his tales. Translated into more than 100 languages, Andersen’s stories found readers far from his homeland. He traveled extensively throughout Europe and met Charles Dickens, Felix Mendelssohn, and the Brothers Grimm, all of whom respected him as a literary genius. Despite this recognition, he remained plagued by insecurity and self-doubt for most of his life. On August 4, 1875, at the age of 70, H. C. Andersen died. Loved by
writers, revered in his homeland, and honored all over the world, Andersen was nevertheless melancholy for most of his life. Yet his legacy remains, as every children’s book with personified, nonhuman characters is, in some way, descended from Andersen’s tales. His trademark themes reveal that sadness can be lightened by unexpected happiness at the end of a journey or the close of a tale.
The 200th anniversary of Andersen’s birth is a perfect time to introduce his timeless treasures to yet another generation of listeners and readers. The following anthologies and picture-book retellings will rekindle recognition of his effortless gift of language, the hardships experienced by his characters, and the potential joy and surprise in life—the most beautiful fairy tale of all. Featuring Andersen’s original texts as well as retellings by contemporary authors and illustrators, the books below are a tribute to this master of the fairy-tale genre.
Collections
Andersen, H. C.
The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories. Translated by Erik Christian Haugaard. 1974. 1120p. Random/Anchor, paper, $19.95 (0-385-18951-6).
All ages. The vivid word choice of the original text is captured in this honored collection of 156 translated tales presented in chronological order of their creation. While lacking the glowing illustrations of more recently published collections, this title’s faithful translation will spark the imagination of readers and listeners. A compelling foreword by Virginia Haviland, an introduction by the translator, and Andersen’s authentic author notes make this the definitive comprehensive collection of these beloved tales.
Andersen, H. C.
Little Mermaids and Ugly Ducklings: Favorite Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen. Illus. by
Gennady Spirin. 2001. 80p. Chronicle, $19.95 (0-8118-1954-X).
Gr. 4–6. Six of the most famous Andersen tales—The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Nightingale, The Princess and the Pea, and The Little Mermaid—appear in this collection. Spirin’s fantasy-rich watercolors in the Renaissance tradition ring memorable characters and agical events to life through full-page portraits, sidebar presentations, and delicate cameo-shaped designs.
Andersen, H. C.
The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen: A New Translation from the Danish. Edited and translated by Diana Crone Frank and Jeffrey Frank. Illus. by Vilhelm Pedersen and Lorenz Frolich. 2003. 304p. Houghton, $27 (0-618-22456-4).
All ages. Twenty-two of Andersen’s tales, including canonical works and lesser-known tales, reveal the literary legacy of the famous children’s storyteller. Translations remain faithful to Danish text and replicate Andersen’s voice. Pedersen’s intricate black-ink illustrations, done prior to 1859, as well as Frolich’s subsequent ones, are
faithful in tone to those accompanying the original publication of Andersen’s tales. An eloquent 36-page introduction, translator notes following each tale, and an extensive bibliography provide additional insights.
Andersen, H. C.
Tales of Hans Christian Andersen. Edited and translated by Naomi Lewis. Illus. by Joel Stewart. 2004. 208p. Candlewick, $22.99 (0-7636-2515-9).
Gr. 4–6. Lewis, a leading authority on Andersen, selects and translates 13 fairy tales, and her expert introduction to the collection and the historic perspective and literary nuances she adds to each selection provide deeper insights. Stewart’s two fairies, Fairy Nice and Fairy Noxious, guide the reader to each tale, and his digitally enhanced illustrations effectively capture the stories’ messages.
Single Tales
In addition to the recommended selections below, other, out-of-print picture-book editions of Andersen’s tales may be available in your library.
Andersen, H. C.
The Little Match Girl. Retold and illus. by Jerry Pinkney. 1999. 32p. Dial/Phyllis Fogelman, $16.99 (0-8037-2314-8).
Gr. 3–5. Pinkney transports Andersen’s Danish heroine to the streets of early-twentieth-century New York. Amid crowded streets and marketplaces on a frigid New Year’s Eve, the homeless match girl huddles in a corner as visions of a warm stove, a holiday feast, a Christmas tree, and her loving grandmother appear and disappear as she strikes each match. The next morning the little match girl is found frozen, but the glory of her departure from life is honored with “When a star falls, a soul is going up to God.”
Andersen, H. C.
The Little Mermaid. Illus. by Lisbeth Zwerger. Translated by Anthea Bell. 2004. 48p. Minedition, $15.99 (0-698-40001-1).
Gr. 3–5. Quiet, dimly lit scenes accompany the traditional text of this poignant tale of sacrifice and unrequited love on the part of a mermaid willing to become human for the sake of a prince. The tragic ending is not softened here, which may surprise young fans of the Disney version.
Andersen, H. C.
The Nightingale. Retold by Stephen Mitchell. Illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. 2002. 40p. Candlewick, $17.99 (0-7636-1521-8).
Gr. 2–4. The emperor of China searches for the nightingale whose captivating song exceeds the beauty of his royal gardens. A gentle kitchen maid draws the humble nightingale to court, where a glittering, bejeweled mechanical nightingale has captured the emperor’s attention. Exquisite paintings depict the characters’ clothing, Chinese architecture, and gardens.
Andersen, H. C.
The Nightingale. Retold and illus. by Jerry Pinkney. 2002. 40p. Dial/Phyllis Fogelman, $16.99
(0-8037-2464-0).
K–Gr. 4. Pinkney moves the setting from China to Morocco, omits some of Andersen’s wry commentary on court manners, and changes a few details to suit the new setting; this retelling is fresh in its interpretation but true to the spirit of the original story of a loyal bird that is able to revive a king from his deathbed. The richly colored artwork teems with lively details.
Andersen, H. C.
The Princess and the Pea. Retold and illus. by Janet Stevens. 1982. 32p. Holiday, $16.95 (0-8234-0442-0); paper, $6.95 (0-8234-0753-5).
K–Gr. 2. Stevens lends a contemporary tone to this tale of a queen in search of a suitable match for her son. Soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations depict a royal family of tigers and a retinue of other humorously drawn creatures as they search the kingdom for a true princess.
Andersen, H. C.
Thumbelina. Retold and illus. by Brian Pinkney. 2003. 40p. Greenwillow, $16.99 (0-688-17476-0).
Preschool–Gr. 2. Born in the petals of a flower blossom, diminutive Thumbelina experiences a dramatic
journey after being kidnapped by a toad. Later betrothed to a mole, our quiet heroine saves a swallow’s life and escapes on his back to the land of flower people, where the king takes her as his wife and gives her a pair of golden wings. Bright illustrations of colored inks on clay board capture this multicultural interpretation.
Andersen, H. C.
Thumbelina. Retold and illus. by Brad Sneed. 2004. 40p. Dial, $16.99 (0-8037-2812-3).
K–Gr. 2. Sneed’s interpretation reflects the strange, vaguely sinister, and perennially fascinating qualities of the original tale. The text cleaves closely to the original, and the dramatic watercolors contrasting light and dark amplify both the dangers Thumbelina faces and the happy ending.
Andersen, H. C.
Thumbeline. Illus. by Lisbeth Zwerger. Translated by Anthea Bell. 2000. 32p. North-South, $15.95 (0-7358-1213-6).
Gr. 1–3. Zwerger captures the miniature world and threatening misfortunes of Thumbeline through delicate, brown-toned watercolors. Interspersed with pencil drawings of a realistic Thumbeline, the illustrations meticulously blend with Andersen’s descriptions of the toad, the June beetle, the fieldmouse, the mole, and the swallow.
Andersen, H. C.
The Ugly Duckling. Illus. by Robert Ingpen. Translated by Anthea Bell. 2005. 32p. Minedition, $15.99 (0-698-40010-0).
Gr. 1–3. This graceful translation tells the whole story of the ugly duckling’s misfortune, rejection, and misery, creating a feeling of darkness true to Andersen’s original and making the ending that much more wonderful. Beautifully composed paintings with elements of collage reinforce the somewhat somber tone.
Andersen, H. C.
The Ugly Duckling. Retold and illus. by Jerry Pinkney. 1999. 48p. HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-688-15932-X).
Preschool–Gr. 3. The 2000 Caldecott Honor Book version of one of Andersen’s most heartfelt tales captures the patience needed to discover one’s own identity. Pinkney’s watercolors articulately reveal the ugly duckling’s sadness and disappointment and his subsequent elation once he transforms into a gracious swan.
Andersen, H. C.
The Wild Swans. Illus. by Anne Yvonne Gilbert. Translated by Naomi Lewis. 2005. 48p. Barefoot, $17.99 (1-84148-164-5).
Gr. 1–4. A young princess must restore her eleven brothers to human form after their evil stepmother has turned them into swans. This version retains a dramatic, somber tone; the beautifully pale, feathery illustrations leaven the seriousness.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin.
The Ugly Duckling. Illus. by Meilo So. 2001. 32p. Knopf, $15.95 (0-375-81319-5).
Preschool–Gr. 2. Carnegie Medalist Demi sets the tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” in China in her striking picture book of the same name. Crossley-Holland captures the classic tale of the awkward duckling who grew into an elegant swan. Watercolor illustrations effectively portray the passing seasons in the barnyard and the marsh.
Demi.
The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Tale Set in China. 2000. 48p. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, $19.95 (0-689-83068-8).
K–Gr. 3. Demi’s compact retelling of the vain emperor whose fondness for clothes dooms him is set in China. Gold-burnished paintings portray small human figures against expansive backgrounds that include elements of Chinese culture such as a dragon parade and silk production.
Poole, Amy Lowry.
The Pea Blossom. 2005. 32p. Holiday, $16.95 (0-8234-1864-2).
K–Gr. 3. Five small peas nest in a pea pod, and each one contemplates its future. The smallest decides that “what
is to happen will happen,” and ends up the only one to survive to grow into a new vine of pods and leaves. This
retelling, set in a garden near Beijing, features painterly illustrations that lend an Asian flair to the traditional story.
Sedgwick, Marcus.
The Emperor’s New Clothes. Illus. by Alison Jay. 2004. 32p. Chronicle, $16.95 (0-8118-4569-9).
Gr. 1–3. In this retelling, prose becomes verse and the tone of the rhymed couplets is jovial. The characters are all sumptuously dressed animals whose emperor is a lion. Jay’s warm, glowing art is finished with a crackle-glaze varnish that adds an air of antiquity.
Seidler, Tor.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier. Illus. by Fred Marcellino. 1992. 32p. HarperTrophy, paper, $6.95 (0-06-05900-9).
K–Gr. 4. Caldecott Honor artist Marcellino sets the tale of a one-legged soldier and the paper ballerina he admires from afar in Copenhagen and creates a Christmas-like effect through muted reds and greens. Full-and double-page spreads capture the tin soldier’s perspective as he travels through the canal, into the fish’s belly, back to the dinner table, and into the roaring flames that melt him into a heart.
Setterington, Ken.
Hans Christian Andersen’s the Snow Queen: A Fairy Tale Told in Seven Stories. Illus. by Nelly and Ernst Hofer. 2000. 48p. Tundra, $16.95 (0-88776-497-5).
Gr. 3–5. This secular retelling features cut-paper art that is reminiscent of Andersen’s own work. Young readers will be entranced by the intricate figures and scenes.
Setterington, Ken.
The Wild Swans: An Adventure in Six Parts. Illus. by Nelly and Ernst Hofer. 2003. 40p. Tundra, $17.95 (0-88776-615-3).
Gr. 4–6. A lost king strikes a bargain to marry a witch, but hides his 11 sons and only daughter from his bride. When his new wife discovers them, she turns the princes into swans, leaving the undetected princess to break the witch’s spell. The delicate cut-paper art of scherenschnitt enhances the tale and replicates the look of the intricate paper art Andersen practiced himself.
Related Titles
Brust, Beth Wagner.
The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Andersen. 1994. 80p. Houghton, $18 (0-395-66787-9).
Gr. 3–6. Few people know that Andersen was an artist who scissor-cut intricate pictures from paper, often created while telling his fairy tales aloud. Now housed in the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark,
these artworks are showcased in white on black backgrounds in this unique book, in which Brust shares the intriguing story of these innovative cuttings.
Yolen, Jane.
The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen. Illus. by Dennis Nolan. 2005. 40p. Dutton, $16.99 (0-525-46955-9).
Gr. 1–5. Factual, sensitively recounted biographical details are interspersed with quotes from Andersen’s stories in this account of the beloved writer’s life. Sepia-toned illustrations portray scenes from both Andersen’s life and his tales, and add to the nostalgic tone of the text.
Web Connection
The Web site listed below was verified at the time of publication, but please check that the site remains valid before using them in an educational setting.
• The Web site of the
Odense City Museum at
http://www.odmus.dk includes links to the H. C. Andersen Museum collection. A biographical exhibit, paper cuts by Andersen, portraits of and drawings by the storyteller, and authentic manuscripts of handwritten fairy tales are included in the extensive holdings of this Danish museum honoring the
Danes’ native son.
Professional Resources
The titles below are invaluable for educators who want to learn more about Andersen and share some of the facts of his life with children prior to reading his tales.
• Andersen, H. C.
The Fairy Tale of My Life: An Autobiography. 1871; reissued 2000. 610p. Cooper Square, paper, $22.95 (0-8154-1105-7).
With an introduction by noted Andersen scholar Naomi Lewis, Andersen’s autobiography covers his provincial childhood, his international fame as a storyteller, his meetings with prominent artistic and social figures, and his journey across Europe. This readable account offers deep insights into the literary genius.
• Wullschlager, Jackie.
Hans Christian Andersen: The Life of a Storyteller. 2000. 496p. Knopf, o.p.
This ambitious, authoritative, well-documented account of the life of the master of fairy tales reveals how Andersen’s art emerged from the complexities of his own experiences. Research from letters, journals, and original sources in both Danish and German paints a complete portrait.
Marjorie R. Hancock is a professor of language arts in the Department of Elementary Education at Kansas State University at Manhattan, Kansas.
