Product Description
Illustrated by the beloved creator of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Little House, and Katy and the Big Snow, here is a delightful version of the tale that boys and girls have loved for centuries. The Emperor himself, his court, and his clothes—or lack of them—are ridiculous as only the master storyteller Hans Christian Andersen can make them. Fifty-five years ago, Virginia Lee Burton added to this tale of fun her own irrepressible humor in pictures and design. This brilliant new edition features Burton"s original illustrations photographed anew, freshly exhibiting her lively concoction of remarkable spirit and beauty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Nice story, nice illustrations - one nude scene, though
Among the many great stories collected by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) is the story of The Emperor's New Clothes. This wonderful book is a translation of Andersen's story, rounded out with bright and colorful and yet realistic illustrations. My little one really liked the story - especially the picture of the naked emperor walking away from the viewer. (Although I must admit that I was less than thrilled with that picture!) Be aware of that one picture, but other than that it's a great book.

Classic Story and Excellent Art
I have seen several versions of the story on TV but I was blown away by the art of Virginia Lee Burton in adapting this Hans Christian Anderson fable. For us visual types the art helps frame the story. It is also cleaverly done when the emperpor is looking in the mirror the angle is such that we see what the empoer sees. It is a great story for early elementary teachers (grades 1 and 2) to read aloud to their reading groups. It is also a good story for remedial English learners because it is an interesting story and the vocabulary is straight forward. It woulld be an excellent project for student teachers to use for any of their reading class projects. As with all fables it has a moral without being religious.

A Very Good Retelling
The emperor has no clothes but don't tell anyone else about it.You may be stupid or unfit for your position.This book has great illustrations and a great retelling.Highly recommended.

Helped my son to read
I had been given 2 of these books from a friend and I decided to see if there were anymore.My son loves this book.He's now working on reading the adult side.It's a great idea to have a page each, 1 for the adult and 1 for the child.We have several of these books now and I see my son sitting down and reading them on his own.

A delightful gem
Generally, I do not care for audio books; many of the readers speak in a dull voice that rapidly drives me either away from the story or to sleep.However, there are a few exceptions; this is one.

Understand, that thisis not the normal audio book; this edtion has a large cast of actors whocollaborated to produce this item as a fund raiser for Starbright.

Theresult is an ensemble piece that is witty and charming.Part of the funfor me, was guessing who was reading before looking at the cast listincluded in the box.

Other folks feel that this isn't for children; Idon't know as I don't have children, but I found that my "innerchild" was highly entertained for 40 minutes with this tape.

If youare a fan of one or more of the actors in this edition or like puns (thereare many here!), then you will probably like the Starbright edtion of theEmporer's New Clothes. ... Read more

Product Description
The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen have delighted readers for generations with their originality, whimsy, and humorous treatment of such human foibles as vanity, snobbery, and greed. This collection of some of the author's most popular tales includes, among other stories, "The Little Mermaid," the story of a mermaid princess who falls in love with a human; "Great Claus and Little Claus," an account of a clever young man who turns a series of misfortunes into a fortune; as well as the tales of "The Ugly Duckling," "The Red Shoes," "Thumbelina," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and many more. Dover original selection of 12 unabridged stories from standard editions.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Danish Master Storyteller Touches the Heart
Over the decades I have enjoyed many HCA fairy tales--considering them a gift to childlike hearts the world over. Many excellent illustrators have chosen individual stories to depict, thus capturing the imagination of readers of all ages.Still I must admit to being disappointed by this Harper anthology which is not all inclusive. The tales vary in length from rather long to absurdly short--not that length alone proves a valid yardstick for enjoyment.

Despite the author's occasional subtle humor he intrudes too much of himself into many tales--as if readers were really interested in hearing about the actual storyteller as well as his characters. One wonders if he were trying to curry favor and royal patronage. Before reading aloud to youngsters: be warned that some tales are brutal or grisly, while others seem legitimate pleas for social reform. His favorite themes for general moralizing portray the dangers of excess: greed, violence and vanity. Was HCA trying to instruct or merely entertain his young readers despite his heavy literary agenda? ... Read more

Product Description

The beloved New York Times bestselling author of Wicked reimagines Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" for modern readers, putting a new twist on a timeless classic.

Customer Reviews (33)

Matchless
Matchless, by Gregory Maguire

I was looking for a short introduction to Maguire, and "Matchless" fit the bill perfectly. It's a slim retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" story, which I'm a little ashamed to say I'd never heard before this. Maguire does take some liberties in changing the story a little bit, which he notes at the end.

"Matchless" is a bit sad, but also has some bright points. Frederik is a new character, and he is the urchin that takes the match girl's slipper. He uses the slipper as a boat for his toy people, which themselves are empty thread spools. He lives with his mother in poverty; she is a seamstress to an unnamed queen. It is his taking of the match girl's slipper that will lead himself and his mother to a new life, but one that comes about because of tragedy.

For me, "Matchless" was an okay story, one that I'll likely forget in a few days. Maguire also illustrated his retelling, but the pictures didn't do much for me either. I will probably check out more of the author's writing, though.

2/5.

Very short & sad...
I love Gregory MaGuire I thought a Christmas story by him based on "The Little Match Girl" might be great having read all his other books. The first thing I noticed was how short it was. It is a really tiny book with little embellishment compared to his other novels he based on fairy tales. It was a very sad story originally, & was kept sad by Mr. MaGuire. I know he wanted to keep the Hans Christian Anderson integrity of the story but I was hoping he would lighten it up & make it a more cheerful Christmas tale. I will not be sharing this story with my daughter anytime soon due to its sad nature. His additions were clever, but I was hoping for more.

Look for a deal
I'm a bit behind the intended reading time for this short, short, short novella (illustrated story), but it finally arrived in my mailbox, and I had so been looking forward to it.

_Matchless_ is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Match Girl" with a bit more depth to the story.For those readers a fan of the original tale, readers a fan of one of the masters of re-explorations of known stories, or readers looking for a Christmas tale, this is certainly a good choice.It does need a forewarning that while this might have more depth than the original fable, it certainly does not have the depth and exploration of characters as Maguire's other works.

While I can't say that I fell anymore in love with Maguire after reading this piece, I can say that there was enough in the tale to make it worth the 15 minutes I spent reading it. And it was a pleasure to look over the illustrations in the book as well, knowing that they were done by Maguire, helping to shine a light on what he felt were the most important visuals of the story.

Take your time and find a stellar deal on this book if you are going to be paying for it.But it is a nice piece to have in your holiday collection.

Maguire Works His Magic
As a Gregory Maguire fan I preordered this item and got it when it was released.I read it immediately and fell in love with the story.I hadn't heard the tale since I was a child and discovering it for myself again now was wonderful.While it may not be suited for all children, it's a beautifully written (and gorgeously illustrated) story of love, loss, and happiness.I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairy tales.

More fun since it's Maguire, but still sad
I love Gregory Maguire ... with "Matchless", I think I've read everything he's published at this point. Overall, I liked "Matchless" more than "What the Dickens" (another winter/Christmas themed one about a "rogue tooth fairy") but it was still just as sad as the original "Little Match Girl", which I didn't expect. Nevertheless, it will definitely have a permanent place amongst the Christmas book selection at our store in years to come. We sold several copies already this Christmas season.

Even though Maguire has written other 'short' books as a series for children/young adults ("Seven Spiders Spinning", etc.), this is a little darker, as was the original "Little Match Girl", so if you're looking for a sweet Christmas story, this is probably not the one for you and your kids. If you love Maguire's other work, and you like your Christmas stories a little off the beaten path, add this one to your collection. Read it aloud together, maybe on the way to grandma's house.:) ... Read more

Product Description
The 2005 bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth is an opportunity to re-evaluate the achievement of one of the great figures of the fairy tale and storytelling tradition, a beloved writer famous for The Snow Queen and The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Red Shoes and many other now classic tales. Jack Zipes broadens our understanding of Andersen by exploring the relation of the Danish writer's work to the development of literature and of the fairy tale in particular. Based on thirty-five years of researching and writing on Andersen, this new book is a welcome reconsideration of Andersen's place and of his reception in English-speaking countries and on film. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Based on over thirty years of researching and writing on Andersen
Fans of Andersen and any who would study his works would do well to include Jack Zipes' Hans Christian Andersen: The Misunderstood Storyteller on their lists of supplemental reading material: it's based on over thirty years of researching and writing on Andersen and explores his writings and their reception in the English-speaking world. Chapters discuss posthumous recognition, themes of childhood and children in his tales, and his ability to portray role reversals to make readers think. A scholarly, quite insightful study evolves.
... Read more

Product Description
By feeling a pea through twenty mattresses and twenty featherbeds, a girl proves she is a real princess. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

very happy
I got this book for my daughter. The book came a lot sooner that expected. I will deffintly buy from this seller agine Thank-you

Kids book
Classic kid book.One of the "musts" to have in your kids collection. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: James Miller in 1883 in 186 pages; Subjects: Christmas; Children's stories, Danish; Christmas stories; Fairy tales; Fiction / Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology; Juvenile Nonfiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent; Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General; Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent; Religion / Holidays / Christmas & Advent; ... Read more

Product Description
Gerta has always wanted a child. One day she finds a little girl in the petals of a magical flower - Thumbelina. The girl's tiny size puts her in harms way and soon she is lost in the forest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Quirky and colorful illustrations!
Thumbelina is a fairy tale that is a bit lesser known to me so I was excited to take a peek at it. The book starts off with a cast of characters, giving you your first hint at the beautiful illustrations to come. They are very quirky and colorful, just what I like! The illustrations range from tiny details to almost scribbles.

The story follows Thumbelina's journey back to her mother Gerta after she is plucked from her home while sleeping but a toad! She meets a variety of other animals in the forest including a mouse, mole and song bird.

Stylistically this is a great graphic novel and I only wish it had been longer. Definitely makes me want to search out illustrator, Sarah Horne's work.

Like The Princess and the Pea, Thumbelina comes with a glossary, about the author, about the retelling author and illustrator, discussion questions, and writing prompts. It's laid on in an easy to follow format with a reading level of 2.4 or guiding reading level of L. ... Read more

Product Description
~

The stories of Hans Christian Andersen are known all over the world and he is one of the most translated authors of all time. Andersen’s fame rests on his fairy tales and stories, written between 1835 and 1872, among the best known of which are ‘The Ugly Duckling,’ ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘The Princess and the Pea,’ ‘The Snow Queen,’ ‘The Nightingale,’ and ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier.’With these fairy tales, inspired by the great tradition of the Arabian Nights and by the brothers Grimm, Andersen became known as the father of the modern fairytale. Moreover, Andersen’s works were original. Only twelve of his 156 known fairy stories drew on folktales. This complete collection of Andersen’s stories is based on Jean Hersholt’s classic translation.

Andersen’s stories have been widely illustrated by some of the best-known illustrators of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in particular those of the Edwardian period – the Golden Age of illustration – including W. Heath Robinson, Arthur Rackham, Mabel Lucie Atwell, Kay Nielsen and Edmund Dulac. Around ninety of the stories are illustrated with reproductions of original illustrations from classic Edwardian to contemporary illustrators. In addition, there are thirteen newly commissioned illustrations for some of Andersen’s less well-known stories.

Product Description
Illustrated with lavish, full-color art from the Disney Research Archives, this beloved classic recounts the tale of a beautiful, young mermaid who wants more than anything to become a human being and possess an immortal soul. Gold foil cover. 16 color illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
For love of a handsome prince, the youngest mermaid makes a bargain with the evil sea-witch and endures great suffering in order to become human. ... Read more

Product Description
Containing many of Arthur Rackham's beautiful colour pictures and black and white drawings. Originally published in 1932. Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Worth the wait
I had been searching a few years for a good collection of the tales of H.C. Andersen.Many were horribly abridged or only contained a few tales or had bizarre illustrations.This is exactly what I have been looking for.For any other parents out there following Andrew Campbell's Latin-Centered Curriculum, this will be an excellent choice. ... Read more

Product Description
The little mermaid grows up longing to visit the world above the waves. When she is finally old enough to travel to the surface of the sea, her life is changed forever. She rescues a young prince from a shipwreck and, out of love, risks all she has for the chance to win his heart. Rachel Isadora's glowing watercolors and rhythmic text breathe new life into this classic story from Hans Christian Andersen.

"A fey, powerfully moving tale, exquisitely illustrated."--Publishers Weekly

Awards:
( A Child Study Children's Book Committee Best
( Children's Book of the Year ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Beautiful images and original re-telling of a Classic
I would give this book 5 stars on aesthetic appeal alone, and another 5 stars for its retelling of Andersen's classic fairy tale.However, I am removing a star, down to 4 stars, as the themes are a bit dark, and heavy.This is not light reading for a small child, but a complex, compelling story of a Little Mermaid to whom an eternal soul is gained through her growth and understanding of love.

My 6 year old daughter seemed quite surprised by the original ending - Not the glorified, lighthearted Disney ending of the movie.However, a few days later, she surprised me more by telling me that she liked this story better than the Disney movie.

I think an older child, age 6-10 will get the most from this book.There are references (to the sea witch taking the mermaid's tongue; and to thepain she endures for gaining legs, and above all, death) that I think a younger child would have trouble getting past on the way to the positive, yet subtle message written within.

Beautiful Book
This is probably the most beautiful and well executed book I have had the pleasure of experiencing. I collect art and this is truly a work of art. It harks back to the children's books of the past such as Dulac. I will enjoy this book for years to come and recommend it to all who can appreciate great art and a great storyteller, that is Mr. Anderson.

The Little Mermaid By Rachel Isadora
This book is horrible! I would not read this book ever again. I found this book in the younger kids section at the library, I was planning to read this book to my younger cousin. Then I read the book to see what it was like and I think this book should go in the young adult section. This book is so sad. I would not reccomend this book to anyone!

Dreamy Mermaid
I loved this book. I was raised on Disney's Little Mermaid and now that I am older, 20, and have a child of my own I am so happy to be able to show them an even more beautiful version. This book has some of the most wonderful pictures I have ever seen in a book before. I am a librarian in the elementary school in in our city and all of the students love this book. We have had many sessions where we have explored the differences in the Disney version and Ms. Isadora's, which have been very exciting. The children have drawn their own pictures and all were very influenced by Ms. Isadora's. I just wanted to say how very much all of us love this very gorgeous edition.

A Wonderful Archetypal Study
This is a story of spiritual awakening as the Little Mermaid moves from a position of unconsciousness to one of consciousness thence to spiritual enlightenment. This is a story of transformation and of true mercy. Despitesome of the less than palatable archetypal symbols, such as her losing hertongue, this book, like all faery tales, should be inspirational to allreaders who seek to find meaning beyond the story in its literary sense.Truely understanding this and other faery tales will assist the reader totranscend this mundane world and discover new insight and understanding ona higher plane. Without this understanding, we are all simplyunconscious.

On an aesthetic level, the watercolours are well executed.This would make a perfect gift. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

ebook for children and adults alike
Andersen's Fairy Tales

An impressive kindle edition of beloved fairy tales. I read this ebook with fond childhood memories. ... Read more

Product Description
For 150 years, the tales of Hans Christian Andersen have been delighting both adults and children. This edition contains all of Andersen's 168 tales, and among the favourites are "The Red Shoes", "The Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes", and "The Ugly Duckling". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent service and great book!
This "used book" arrived in pristine condition, just like new, in only two weeks, all the way from Germany! So the service was excellent.
This is the Craigie version (a revision of the Dulcken), with corrections and additions, and 95 illustrations, published in 1914 by Oxford University Press.
The type is large enough and the text runs smoothly: perfect for reading out loud!
A very decent translation, and quite readable, from the early 20th century. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Reprinted here for the first time since the 19th century, these color illustrations by T. Pym make the classic Andersen fairy tale even more magical.

One of Andersen's best-beloved tales, The Snow Queen is a story about the strength and endurance of childhood friendship. Gerda's search for her playmate Kay–who was abducted by the Snow Queen and taken to her frozen palace–is brought to life in delicate and evocative illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The Snow Queen by H. C. Andersen
Note:The version of The Snow Queen that I am reviewing is from an early 1900's book of Andersen's Fairy Tales that I have - thus, the "original" version.


The Snow Queen, a fairy tale by celebrated children's writer Hans Christian Andersen, is a light, somewhat interesting make-believe story.This work, like most of Andersen's other pieces, brings magical happenings into "real life" and is not set in a mystical land.

The story begins with the account of a wicked goblin who makes a mirror which makes everything pretty look awful.While using this mirror one day he accidentally drops it, and it breaks into many tiny pieces which scatter all over the world.If anyone should get a piece of the glass in his eye, everything would look terrible; and if the shard penetrated to his heart, the organ would soon turn into a lump of ice.

The next thing that we see in the story is a little boy named Kay and a little girl named Gerda playing together in a rose garden.They are best friends, and they both adore each other.However, two of the shards of glass from the goblin's mirror that were floating about in the air get into Kay's eye, and one of them goes straight to his heart, which will now soon turn to a lump of ice.Kay suddenly perceives Gerda, the roses, and other things as looking dreadful.After this he does not like to play with Gerda anymore, and prefers to be by himself.

One day as he is riding his sledge, he meets up with the icy Snow Queen who is riding along in her own sledge.He follows her back to her palace, which is all pure ice.The Snow Queen then gives him a word puzzle to solve, saying that if he could find the word "eternity" that he would be free to leave her palace.Gerda, meanwhile, is very upset that her little friend is gone.By chance she gets into a boat, which happens to come free of its tethers to the shore and is swept away by the current downstream.Finding herself thus carried away from her town, she resolves to find Kay.Through a series of strange events, including and meeting up with an old witch, a prince, and robbers, she finally makes her way to the Snow Queen's palace.The Snow Queen is conveniently out, and so Gerda finds Kay sitting there all alone, his heart almost a lump of ice.He does not recognize or even seem to see her; however, she bursts into tears, and the warm tears go to his heart and melt the bit of mirror that was there.He then bursts into tears as well, and washes away the shard that was in his eye.All traces of the mirror now gone, he wakes up as if from a dream.He looks over at the word puzzle that the Snow Queen has left for him to solve, and finds that it has solved itself and spelled "eternity."Now free to leave the palace, Kay and Gerda go back to the town together.They forget all that has happened, and sit in the beautiful sun of summer together.

This story is an average make believe story, with the traditional fairy-tale account of someone being taken away and another person having to come to their rescue.Usually an evil being is the one who snatches a noble person away. This tale, however, does not make clear who exactly the villain is.Kay and Gerda are, of course, the "good" people, and the goblin is most obviously "bad."However, the story leaves you wondering exactly which side the Snow Queen is on.She takes Kay away causing Gerda and the rest of the townspeople to grieve; yet she does not harm or be mean to him in any way.She seems not to serve any real purpose in the story except that of a diversion, a convenient way for Kay to be gone so that Gerda can come and rescue him.This pointlessness in the Snow Queen's existence is a significant flaw in Andersen's writing, as this discrepancy leaves you feeling slightly perplexed at the end of the story.

The story is also somewhat monotonous at times, and especially tedious is the pages long account of the flowers' stories.The incident with the robbers provides a bit of excitement, and younger children might think that the encounters with the prince & princess and Gerda's risky journey are exciting as well.For the most part, though, this story lacks much-needed liveliness.I had predicted and looked forward to a final showdown with the Snow Queen; however, to my disappointment, there was none.

The Snow Queen was for the most part a cute - if rather unremarkable - fairy tale.Even though this particular make-believe chronicle of Andersen's is one of his better known works, the story lacks the vivacity that makes Andersen's other compositions so charming.Also unlike other of Andersen's characteristic tales, this story has almost no moral value - besides the common "good triumphs over evil" theme.In comparison to the vast horde of fairy tales ever written, this piece was quite average; however, in comparison to Andersen's other works it is rather feeble.I give The Snow Queen two and a half out of five stars.Keeping in mind that this is a children's story, it is to some extent an adventuresome tale that any child under seven will probably find interesting.Older children, though, might want to pass by this one and pick up another of Andersen's fairy tales - one that is both exhilarating and that has a wholesome moral lesson.

ICY TALE THAT WARMS THE HEART
The Snow Queen is a charming fairy tale, written byHans Christian Andersen.
It is full ofFriendship and Love, as Gerda journeys to cold Finland in search of her best friend, Kay, who has been captured by the evil Snow Queen. When she finally reaches him, Gerda must try to warm Kay's heart to set him free.
Reading this was very interesting, and it is not at all the kind of book that would put you to sleep, in my opinion.It is ingeniously written, and with such imagination!The hardships Gerda endures for her friend are inspiring, and can instill good values in little children as they grow and begin to form friendships.
The Snow Queen will almost certainly enchant people of all ages . . . and may even interest you in reading more fairy tales!

Oh the weather outside is frightful...
I once read an article in Horn Book Magazine (a review source of titles and articles on children's literature) that lamented the millions of poor translations of Hans Christian Andersen polluting the minds of our young people today.The review mentioned that stories like, "The Snow Queen", which were originally written in a snappy vernacular, have been dumbed down and drained of all energy by their American translators.With this idea fresh in my mind I found myself in possession of a very particular copy of "The Snow Queen" and I was able to test this theory myself.Now due to the wacky nature of Amazon.com, the website has lumped together the reviews of every single version of this Anderson story.You will see that some of the reviews refer to Nilesh Mistry's, some refer to the audio book, some to Eileen Kernaghan's, and some (God help us all) to Mary Engelbreit.None of these, however, are the version that I am reviewing.After careful consideration, I selected the edition retold by Amy Ehrlich and illustrated by Susan Jeffers.The Ehrlich/Jeffers team has banded together to bring us every fairy tale from Thumbelina to Cinderella.With this 1982 classic edition, they bring all the creepy and crawly elements of Andersen's riveting tale to a kind of tame middlebrow life.

Most people don't remember that "The Snow Queen" begins when the devil creates a mirror that reflects everything good as bad.By a quirk of fate the mirror is smashed one day (the details of this accident are left unclear) and the tiny pieces go spinning into the atmosphere.If these splinters enter your eye, everything will look ugly to you.If they enter your heart, it will turn instantly to ice.Got it?Good.Cause sure enough, two small pieces enter the eye and the heart of a boy named Kai.When this happens he stops playing with his best playmate Gerta and instead falls under the seductive spell of the mysterious and magnificently pale Snow Queen.Gerta goes in search of her friend but is waylaid by a variety of different adventures.She escapes an overly loving old witch, is taken in by a prince and princess, falls into the power of a thief girl and her kin, and at last saves Kai from the Snow Queen herself.By the end of the book, neither kid is a child any longer and their home is just as they left it.

Obviously "The Snow Queen" is one big ole story about growing up.The idea of the devil's mirror causing someone to despise anything they see and grow a suddenly cold heart... well that's just another way of describing adolescence, is it not?Andersen obviously borrowed quite a lot from that classic old tale, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon", in which another girl goes off to save the man she loves from the machinations of a wicked woman.Heck, "Tam Lin" was probably an influence as well.The best version of this particular story I ever read was by Kara Dalkey.It was a tale named, "The Lady of the Ice Garden" and can be found in "Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Science Fiction and Fantasy".It is not, however, appropriate for children.Kids today will probably look at "The Snow Queen" and instantly think of the White Witch from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".I cannot think, however, that this is a bad thing.

As for the Jeffers/Ehrlich version, it's all right.As an illustrator, Jeffers has apparently decided to make Kai and Gerta definitely children.I guess that lowers the creepiness factor when the Snow Queen lures the boy to her sleigh and wraps him in her furs.Jeffers really captures beautifully every diamond in the Snow Queen's dress and every strand of her white white hair.There is the odd stylistic choice here and there, though.When Gerta surprises the prince and princess in their bed, it is not your typical mattress affair but rather large his and her flower petals.I can't think that they're comfortable (or even particularly practical).The illustrations have been created, according to the book, "using a fine-line pen with ink and dyes.They were applied over a detailed pencil drawing that was then erased".As a result, the book is as soft as a colored pencil, but with a level of detail and intricacy normally associated with pen and ink.

Obviously I don't know enough about the original version of "The Snow Queen" (or, as Andersen called it, "Sneedronningen") to know whether or not this book is a worthy version to read to your tots.At any rate, it tells the full story, warts and all, and will provide them with what may well be the most Freudian-toned fairy tale ever to grace their little brains.A fun edition of a rather odd tale.

Review of The Snow Queen by Kerrie Reinhardt (Age 12)
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson is a fairy tale about two lovers, Kay and Gerda.The adventure begins when the Snow Queen abducts Kay and Gerda travels throughout Europe trying to find him meeting many people and facing many hardships along the way.
I enjoyed The Snow Queen because it has a biblical theme: perfect love overcomes fear (I John 4:18).I also like it because it has a happy ending.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST MEMORABLE FAIRY TALES
"The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen is one of the world's most memorable fairy tales.Gerda's journey to find her lost friend and her visit to the ice palace of the Snow Queen capture a child's imagiantion as few tales do.

Creatively dramatic illustrations make this a valuable addition to the annals of children's literature. ... Read more

Product Description

The Little Mermaid is just one jewel in this enchanting collection of twenty stories by the father of the modern fairy tale, Hans Christian Andersen.

Whether you prefer laughing aloud at the Emperor in his "new clothes" or sighing as the Little Mermaid pines for her human prince, one thing is certain–this is a book that will be read again and again!

Product Description
Hans Christian Andersen's spell binding stories present deep moral lessons spanning cultural and generational differences.A thread of optimism weaves its way through the stories, giving hope and inspiration to all readers. ... Read more