Usborne Illustrated Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

by Anna Milbourne (Contributor), Hans Christian Andersen, Gillian Doherty (Contributor)

A beautiful gift edition of twelve classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales lavishly presented with a clothbound cover.
Includes the best-loved characters of ‘Thumbelina’, ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Ugly Duckling’, as well as a biography of Hans Christian Andersen, all enchantingly illustrated and specially retold for younger readers.
An essential addition to any family bookshelf and a wonderful gift.

Genres: Fairy Tales, Childrens, Picture Books

280 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Growing up in North West England and in Germany, Anna wrote plays about talking animals, and stories about naughty children, and drew on every available surface. After school, she did an Art Foundation course, then a degree in German Literature & Philosophy at Oxford University. In 1998 she found her perfect job at Usborne in London, writing about everything from curious penguins to trips to the Moon. Usborne.com

Reviews

[Heather Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems fitting that we finished this lovely collection today. My dad passed away 7 years ago today. He loved all things Danish. I loved listening to him read Hans Christen Anderson stories especially the sad ones. To this day, The Little Match Girl still haunts me. ❤️

[Fiction Addition Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hans Christian Andersen was born in 1805 in Odense, a small town in Denmark. His father was a poor shoemaker and his mother was a washerwoman. In many ways, his life was rather like a fairy tale. He went from rags to riches, and drew on his experiences to tell stories that made him famous.

At 14, Andersen set off to seek his fortune in the capital city, Copenhagen it was two days by stagecoach, but he didn’t have enough money for the fare to take him all the way, so he finished the last 10 miles on foot.
He arrived on 16 September 1819. It was a new beginning for him, and he celebrated the date every year for the rest of his life.
He tried to make his living as an actor and a singer. When he was 17, a generous director spotted his potential and sent him back to school. Later he described it as the most miserable time of his life and some say the story The Ugly Duckling stems from this.
After his education he went on to research to become a writer and he remembered the fairy tales his grandmother had told him.
His first stories were published in 1835, The Tinderbox and The Princess and the Pea. Everyone loved them and he went on to write more and more.

Anderson celebrated his birthday on the 2nd April and since 1967 World Children’s Book day has been celebrated by millions on that same anniversary.

This book features 12 of his most popular stories, including The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen , The Little Fir Tree, Thumbelina and more..
It transported me back to my childhood when I read it and I could remember saying to my mum “just one more page” before bedtime.

Aimed at 7 year olds
Five fairy tale stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Whole And · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit diluted in writing quality from the originals but a great collection of popular and not so popular Andersen classics. Simple illustrations and sparse.

[Emelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations were beautiful!

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutest book ever! It made me so happy (and somewhat proud) to read fairytales like The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Pea in their original language. And not to forget; the drawings are sooo beautiful :)

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about Fairy Tales that captivates children of all ages and Hans Christian Andersen is the guru of Fairy Tales. Whether I read these stories to my children at bedtime or after school, they sat attentively in wonder and anticipation until the story was completed.

There are many lovely Fairy Tales included in this compilation. Some are familiar and some are not as familiar. However, my favorite of the ones from this collection was "The Little Fir Tree". It is just such a beautiful metaphor on the fleating preciousness of life and giving thanks and appreciating what you have today.

[Montse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un muy bonito libro, la portada en tela y las ilustraciones bellísimas. La traducción no me encantó, tiene palabras poco comunes en especial para los pequeños. El tamaño de letra esta perfecto para que vayan acompañando la lectura y el largo de las historias adecuado para que no se aburran. Aunque aún es pequeña (2 años), ya se lo leí a mi hija y se lo seguiré leyendo para que se enamore de las historias de Hans Christian Andersen.

[Afifah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suka banget dengan cerita-cerita HC Andersen yang ada di buku ini. Ada beberapa cerita yang memang sudah pernah aku dengar tapi ada beberapa juga yang baru kali ini aku baca. Overall ceritanya sangat menarik, banyak moral values yang bisa diambil, plus ilustrasinya juga indah banget.

4.5 bintang untuk buku ini :)

[Kenzie Oldham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this big fairytale book, full of little fairytale books by Hans Christen Andersen. They were all really well written and had great morals. My personal favourite was The Little Mermaid, it is similar to the Disney movie but definitely takes a darker turn.
I think that anyone can enjoy these fairytales no matter how old you are.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book to my kids and they enjoyed hearing the original stories that inspired some of their favorite Disney movies. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories are well-written and interesting.

[lilian (noah's version) 🖤✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute magical book.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a little girl, my mum used to play a record of Danny Kaye singing Hans Christian Andersen's Fairytales like 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.
And moments like this as child are moments you never ever forget.
This compilation of fairytales in this extremely precious book are the first written works by Hans Christian Andersen that I've ever read - even though I've seen and heard about them before.

It's hard not to love his stories and I think this was the perfect way to to bring them to life

[Becker Children · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was disappointed this illustrated collection didn’t have more illustrations—might go a spread or two with no pictures and then here a tiny picture, here a full page—but I do really like the style of illustration and I think the stories are well told and they are great stories. How have I reached adulthood and never read The Snow Queen before now? I’m looking for more complete and illustrated versions of that one, particularly, but also enjoyed the familiar and new stories in this collection.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's literature Illustrated fairy tales
K and up

This beautifully illustrated collection of Anderson's classic fairy tales is one I would like to have. The type is easy to read for younger readers, but enjoyable for those of us who are older as well. Some of the tales I was familiar with, but many I didn't know. It is nice to have so many fairy tales in one book.

[Slow Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coincidently, tomorrow is the birthday of Mr Anderson.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the fairy tales that you probably know are in this book.

[Ida Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great fairy tale audio book

I never knew these jems existed.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just like it!

[Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!