Andersen's Fairy Tales

Title: Thumbelina (The Ugly Duckling, The Happy Family, The Snow Queen)
Author: Hans Christian Andersen
Publisher: Gramercy Books
Copyright: 1984 Crown Publishers, Inc.
Pages: 803
Ages: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary:
There was a woman who wanted a child of her own but didn’t know where to get one. She found a witch and paid her for one. The witch gave her a Tulip and had her take it home. The woman thought the flower was so pretty, she kissed it. As she did, it opened to reveal a little girl in the middle of the flower no bigger than a thumb. The woman named her Thumbelina. Thumbelina was happy. She slept in a walnut shell and played in her “pond”, and sang all day. One night while Thumbelina was sleeping, a nasty toad kidnapped her and took her away so that Thumbelina could marry her son. She put her on a lily pad so she couldn’t escape and then left to prepare her home. When Thumbelina woke up she was distraught. The fish who heard of the evil toads plan cut the lily pad free and Thumbelina was on her way. While floating along a cockchafer picked her up of the lily pad and took her away. He had thought she was pretty but soon his friends made fun of her and he sent her away. Thumbelina lived in the woods from summer, through autumn. By winter, she didn’t know what to do. She was freezing and had no food. She found a field-mouse and asked to stay with her. The field-mouse agrees as long as Thumbelina keeps house and tells stories to her and Mr. Mole. The field-mouse wants Thumbelina to marry Mr. Mole but Thumbelina doesn’t. While living with the field-mouse, Thumbelina discovers a “dead” sparrow in Mr. Mole’s tunnel. She warms him and he is revived. He offers to take her with him but she refuses. Later, the field-mouse tells Thumbelina that she is to marry the Mole. Thumbelina is distraught and when summer comes, she runs away with the Sparrow. The Sparrow takes her to warmer country where he tells her to pick a flower to live in. When she does, she discovers it is occupied by a king, just her size. He finds her so beautiful he puts his crown on her head and asks to marry her. She agrees and is given gifts by all the other people there. The Sparrow is sad to leave his friend, but leaves to tell the story.

Who would I recommend this to?
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Andersen’s work, or someone who is struggling with being little (I did when I was younger, I related to Thumbelina).

Possible problems:
The story makes Thumbelina seem rather unintelligent. For example, why doesn’t she leave the Field-mouse and Mole as soon as she discovers their plan for her? Instead she lets Sparrow go and waits several months before escaping. Parents who want their children to take action instead of waiting might not appreciate this story.

My reaction:
I’ve always loved this story, although I admit I prefer the movie. I think the Prince is introduced much too late in the book, while in the movie I believe he makes an appearance within the first fifteen minutes. But back to the book. I think it's cute and well written, however I'm not sure if I'd read it to my class.