Thumbelina - Hardcover

Andersen, Hans Christian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763620793 ISBN 13: 9780763620790

Publisher: Candlewick, 2009

Synopsis

Luminous illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline combine with Brian Alderson€™s wry retelling for a gorgeous gift edition of a well-loved tale.A childless woman visits a witch who gives her a barleycorn €” and hidden in its bloom is a tiny girl. For one so small, Thumbelina€™s life is full of misadventures as she floats through the pages like a wisp on the wind, encountering kind and unkind creatures in succession. But old Mrs. Toad with her "rek-kek-kek" and the alarming Man in Gray cannot crush her spirits, and Thumbelina€™s gentle concern for a winged soul in need paves the way to her freedom and happiness. In a warm, witty retelling accessible to younger children, Hans Christian Andersen€™s tale of a girl no bigger than a thumb is lavishly illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Showcasing art evocative of Victorian storybooks €” with a touch of the dreamlike Rousseau €” this is truly a breathtaking edition of a treasured classic.

About this title

About the Author

Brian Alderson is an esteemed children’s book author, critic, and curator whose translation of some of his favorite Andersen tales was published as THE SWAN'S STORIES, illustrated by Chris Riddell. Brian Alderson lives in England.

Bagram Ibatoulline has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE, HANA IN THE TIME OF TULIPS, and GREAT JOY. He lives in Pennsylvania.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Alderson's version of this oft-retold tale clips along at a breezy pace, retaining most of Andersen's detail. It heightens the role of the swallow a bit, identifying him at the outset as the narrator, in addition to his central role in liberating Thumbelina. "'That's where it all started,' said the swallow. That's where the woman went off to see the local witch. She wanted a baby real bad and thought the witch could help." And so, of course, the witch did help, giving the woman a barleycorn to plant in a pretty pot. Ibatoulline's fulsome paintings offer bold views of the natural world and the animals that the blond doll-like Thumbelina encounters. Most of the semi-realistic creatures have a cheerful semblance, though two of them—who are actually quite benign in the story—are a bit grotesque. The maybugs that carry Thumbelina off to their tree for a bit and the spiders who weave her wedding dress are drawn as very toothy animals. All look as if they're wearing prominent dentures. The large views and well-paced text will work well for reading aloud in group settings. The book stands nicely with editions by other artists, tellers, and translators.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
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About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0763620793
• ISBN 13: 9780763620790
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Ibatoulline Bagram