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Thumbelina/Pulgarcita
Retold in both Spanish and English, the universally loved story "Thumbelina" will delight early readers and older learners alike. The striking illustrations give a new look to this classic tale, and the bilingual text makes it perfect for both home and classroom libraries.
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
February 1st 2004
by Chronicle Books
(first published 1835)
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Abigail
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Recommends it for:
Fairy-Tale Lovers / Bagram Ibatoulline Fans
Thumbelina, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.
Brian Alderson, the British children's author and critic, whose many folkloric projects have included the editing of Andrew Lang's color fairy books, as well as a collection of Hans Christian Andersen's tales (The Swan's Stories), here turns his attention to the classic story of a tiny girl, no bigger than a thumb. The trials and tribulations of Thumbelina (Tommelise in the original Danish) - kidnapped by toads, set adrift on a river, sei...more
Brian Alderson, the British children's author and critic, whose many folkloric projects have included the editing of Andrew Lang's color fairy books, as well as a collection of Hans Christian Andersen's tales (The Swan's Stories), here turns his attention to the classic story of a tiny girl, no bigger than a thumb. The trials and tribulations of Thumbelina (Tommelise in the original Danish) - kidnapped by toads, set adrift on a river, sei...more
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Thumbelina, illustrated by Susan Jeffers.
Originally published in 1979, this abridgement of Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina - in which a tiny girl must escape from a number of would-be bridegrooms - was recently reprinted, in 2005. Adapted by Amy Ehrlich and illustrated by Susan Jeffers - who also collaborated on The Wild Swans, The Snow Queen, and Cinderella - it is pleasant enough, but also problematic, from both a narrative and illustrative standpoint.
Ehrlich's ret...more
Originally published in 1979, this abridgement of Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina - in which a tiny girl must escape from a number of would-be bridegrooms - was recently reprinted, in 2005. Adapted by Amy Ehrlich and illustrated by Susan Jeffers - who also collaborated on The Wild Swans, The Snow Queen, and Cinderella - it is pleasant enough, but also problematic, from both a narrative and illustrative standpoint.
Ehrlich's ret...more
Abigail
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fairy-Tale Lovers / Lauren Mills Fans
Thumbelina, illustrated by Lauren Mills.
Influenced by folktales such as Tom Thumb, as well as the fantasies of Jonathan Swift and E.T.A. Hoffman, Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina ("Tommelise" in the original Danish) follows the adventures of its diminutive heroine, from her birth in a tulip-like flower, through her almost-marriage to a string of unsuitable "suitors," to her eventual meeting with the perfect mate. An adventure-story with great appeal for reader...more
Influenced by folktales such as Tom Thumb, as well as the fantasies of Jonathan Swift and E.T.A. Hoffman, Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina ("Tommelise" in the original Danish) follows the adventures of its diminutive heroine, from her birth in a tulip-like flower, through her almost-marriage to a string of unsuitable "suitors," to her eventual meeting with the perfect mate. An adventure-story with great appeal for reader...more
A woman and her husband cannot have children, so the woman went to the local witch. She told her she wanted a baby, the witch gave her barleycorn to put in a pretty pot and then something will grow. After a while, the plant grew in the pot and out popped a baby girl, who was no bigger than their thumb. So they decided to call her Thumbelina. Her parents made her a nursery that they placed on the windowsill. In the spring, there was a toad, Mrs. Toad who saw Thumbelina and thought that she would ...more
The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline in this adapation of Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina were just beautiful, which is really what made this adaptation by Brian Alderson special, I think. The story itself seemed a little choppy, or flat, perhaps, although I'm not really familiar with the story of Thumbelina, so I don't know what this particular version was lacking. I just didn't think there was anything truly special about the way the words came together in this rendition. The illust...more
Illustrated by David Johnson
“Thumbelina” is one of the most cherished stories in the Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics series and is surely a classic in its own right. Kelly McGillis’ tender narration, along with Mark Isham’s memorizing music and David Johnson’s exquisite drawings, combine to make “Thumbelina” one of the tenderest stories in Rabbit Ears history.
Kelly McGillis’ narration is extremely tender as she makes this story extremely touching and soothing to watch an...more
“Thumbelina” is one of the most cherished stories in the Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics series and is surely a classic in its own right. Kelly McGillis’ tender narration, along with Mark Isham’s memorizing music and David Johnson’s exquisite drawings, combine to make “Thumbelina” one of the tenderest stories in Rabbit Ears history.
Kelly McGillis’ narration is extremely tender as she makes this story extremely touching and soothing to watch an...more
2nd-4th Grades
Zwerger had an interesting way of illustrating this book. She uses very neutral hues when using the colors and draws in a very non-realistic way. The pictures are not very sharp, but do let the students know what she is drawing. The cover tells the reader a lot about what this book is going to be about along with the pictures that go along with the story. The text is a little smaller and full with every page. Andersen does not have very much negative space on the pages m...more
Zwerger had an interesting way of illustrating this book. She uses very neutral hues when using the colors and draws in a very non-realistic way. The pictures are not very sharp, but do let the students know what she is drawing. The cover tells the reader a lot about what this book is going to be about along with the pictures that go along with the story. The text is a little smaller and full with every page. Andersen does not have very much negative space on the pages m...more
Thumbelina, illustrated by Brad Sneed.
Wow! Is this really the ninth picture-book version of Thumbelina I've read and reviewed - the tenth, if you count Thumbelina of Toulaba - for my Hans Christian Andersen project? Color me obsessed! And color it is, that makes this adaptation illustrated by Brad Sneed such a pleasure! With deep-toned watercolor illustrations, created with vivid greens and blues, and gorgeous reds and yellows, this edition of Andersen's classic tale of a diminutive ...more
Wow! Is this really the ninth picture-book version of Thumbelina I've read and reviewed - the tenth, if you count Thumbelina of Toulaba - for my Hans Christian Andersen project? Color me obsessed! And color it is, that makes this adaptation illustrated by Brad Sneed such a pleasure! With deep-toned watercolor illustrations, created with vivid greens and blues, and gorgeous reds and yellows, this edition of Andersen's classic tale of a diminutive ...more
Abigail
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fairy-Tale Lovers / Lisbeth Zwerger Fans
Thumbeline, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger.
Named Tommelise in the original Danish, the diminutive heroine of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale has been variously known in English as Little Ellie, Little Totty, Little Maja, Inchelina, Thumbelisa, and - of course - Thumbelina. Anthea Bell's 1980 translation of the story, reprinted earlier this year (2009), features the only appearance - so far as I know - of Thumbeline. Done to distinguish her work from other translations and adap...more
Named Tommelise in the original Danish, the diminutive heroine of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale has been variously known in English as Little Ellie, Little Totty, Little Maja, Inchelina, Thumbelisa, and - of course - Thumbelina. Anthea Bell's 1980 translation of the story, reprinted earlier this year (2009), features the only appearance - so far as I know - of Thumbeline. Done to distinguish her work from other translations and adap...more
Abigail
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fairy-Tale Lovers / Rabbit-Ears Fans
Thumbelina, illustrated by David Johnson.
Part of Rabbit Ears Entertainment's series of fairy-tell retellings, this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina is mostly faithful to the original, with one or two minor changes obviously intended to make the heroine less passive. Thumbelina asks the fish to help her escape from the toads, for instance, rather than just weeping on her lily pad. David Johnson's ink and watercolor illustrations are hit or miss, some - like that depi...more
Part of Rabbit Ears Entertainment's series of fairy-tell retellings, this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina is mostly faithful to the original, with one or two minor changes obviously intended to make the heroine less passive. Thumbelina asks the fish to help her escape from the toads, for instance, rather than just weeping on her lily pad. David Johnson's ink and watercolor illustrations are hit or miss, some - like that depi...more
Thumbelina, illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale of a tiny girl - no bigger than a thumb - is considerably abridged in this adaptation by Brian Pinkney - winner of the Coretta Scott King Medal for In the Time of the Drums, and two-time recipient of a Caldecott Honor. In this retelling, the characters are of African, rather than European extraction, although no culturally specific details are given to anchor the story to a particular place. Like the orig...more
Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale of a tiny girl - no bigger than a thumb - is considerably abridged in this adaptation by Brian Pinkney - winner of the Coretta Scott King Medal for In the Time of the Drums, and two-time recipient of a Caldecott Honor. In this retelling, the characters are of African, rather than European extraction, although no culturally specific details are given to anchor the story to a particular place. Like the orig...more
Abigail
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fairy-Tale Lovers / Arlene Graston Fans
Thumbelina, illustrated by Arlene Graston.
Originally published in 1835, as part of the second booklet of Andersen's Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Første Samling. (Fairy Tales Told for Children, First Collection), Thumbelina has been interpreted as everything from an allegory of Christian suffering and salvation, to a tale of female masturbation. Needless to say, younger readers will probably just appreciate it as an exciting adventure story, albeit one with a fairly passive heroine.
...more
Originally published in 1835, as part of the second booklet of Andersen's Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Første Samling. (Fairy Tales Told for Children, First Collection), Thumbelina has been interpreted as everything from an allegory of Christian suffering and salvation, to a tale of female masturbation. Needless to say, younger readers will probably just appreciate it as an exciting adventure story, albeit one with a fairly passive heroine.
...more
The copy Julia and I own and read is different than this. Because of the number of different Thumbelina listings I decided to go with this one. I can't find an ISBN on our copy and I'm thinking it may not be listed here. Dean Walley retold the story here and it's a pop-up book thanks to Bruce Baker and Arlene Noel illustrated.
Pop-up books make up some of Julia's very favorites and since Thumbelina is one of her all-time favorite movies I picked this up when I happened to see it. It's very...more
Pop-up books make up some of Julia's very favorites and since Thumbelina is one of her all-time favorite movies I picked this up when I happened to see it. It's very...more
1) The category that this book fit under on the bingo board is "A Fairy Tale By Hans Christian Anderson Or The Brothers Grimm".
2) I decided to read this book because I needed to read a fairy tale for my reading log.
3) I liked how it was all about animals, or rather Tiny's troubles and relationships with with them, and how she travels all over the place meeting lots of different people/animals. It had an interesting variety of sad, happy, and rather strange parts to ...more
2) I decided to read this book because I needed to read a fairy tale for my reading log.
3) I liked how it was all about animals, or rather Tiny's troubles and relationships with with them, and how she travels all over the place meeting lots of different people/animals. It had an interesting variety of sad, happy, and rather strange parts to ...more
Gorgeous illustrations highlight this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairytale. We recently read The Serpent Came to Gloucester and recognized the illustrator's name. Though I've heard about Thumbelina a bunch in the past (most recently in a Barbie context), I must admit I didn't know the story. We read this book aloud at bedtime and were enchanted by the tale. There was suspense, drama and adorable fairies. What more can you ask for?
Surprisingly, there were a ...more
Surprisingly, there were a ...more
This is a magic tale that is about a tiny girl who is looking for love. She see many different animals and goes through many different seasons to find just the right person.
This story maps out Thumbelina’s life according to seasons. In an early primary classroom, students learn about the seasons and this book would be a great book to study in conjunction with that standard. Not only does this book show the seasons but they show the repeating seasons to display that years ...more
Grades 1-2 (Read aloud with beginning readers).
The title page states that this version was translated by Elizabeth Bell and adapted by Sindy McKay, with illustrations by Quentin Gréban. Gréban’s paintings are very delicate and colorful, I was drawn to this book by the beautiful illustration on the front page (Tumbelina on the back of the blue swallow, flying over the city), and children will also be intrigued by his beautiful, detailed paintings throughout this book. The format of t...more
The title page states that this version was translated by Elizabeth Bell and adapted by Sindy McKay, with illustrations by Quentin Gréban. Gréban’s paintings are very delicate and colorful, I was drawn to this book by the beautiful illustration on the front page (Tumbelina on the back of the blue swallow, flying over the city), and children will also be intrigued by his beautiful, detailed paintings throughout this book. The format of t...more
Again, I have yet to be disappointed by any of the retelling of these classic fables. This version of Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina by Brian Anderson. The watercolor pictures in this book are lovely and filled with rich colors of yellows, reds, and greens. This book is simple enough for the youngest child and also clever enough for older children because it introduces various words, such as, obstoprolous. These classic fables are timeless and if I, a 34 year old mom can enjoy them, th...more
Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen is a book about a girl who is given to parents who could not have children. The unique thing about her was that she was no bigger than the size of their thumb. IN the spring, a toad noticed her and thought that she could marry her son. So she kidnapped her. This is where the adventure really begins. She meets many creatures like the Maybugs and the mole. In the end she meets the diamond prince and she marries him and they live happily ever after. In this boo...more
This was my absolute favourite movie as a child... even now. I always loved the fairy tales but had not taken the time to read this specific one. I loved how closely the movie stayed to the story. I think the only thing more charming than marrying a fairy has got to be marrying the king of the flower spirits. What a lovely connection to the "veil of the fairies". Jaquimo remains intact with his role of telling the story. The only thing out of place is that she meets the king after her ...more
Abigail
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fairy-Tale Lovers / Adrienne Adams Fans
Thumbelina, illustrated by Adrienne Adams.
A recent review by a goodreads friend reminded me of illustrator Adrienne Adams, who worked on many of my favorite children's books by Rumer Godden. I was quite excited to discover that Adams had also illustrated a number of Hans Christian Andersen retellings, amongst them this lovely Thumbelina.
Fairy-tale purists will be pleased to know that this edition contains a full and faithful translation of the original Danish, done by R.P...more
A recent review by a goodreads friend reminded me of illustrator Adrienne Adams, who worked on many of my favorite children's books by Rumer Godden. I was quite excited to discover that Adams had also illustrated a number of Hans Christian Andersen retellings, amongst them this lovely Thumbelina.
Fairy-tale purists will be pleased to know that this edition contains a full and faithful translation of the original Danish, done by R.P...more
SUSAN JEFFERS ILLUSTRATIONS:
I thought this was lovely, but then I'm a Jeffers fan. The story of Thumbelina has always proved oddly intriguing--alternately delightful and disturbing--for me (aided, no doubt, by the very odd experience of seeing human actors dressed as Mole and Bluebird in the Faerie Tale Theater production, ahem!) I must say this version (text) did nothing to clear up the problematic elements although I am still enchanted with the idea of the wee girl living amongst birds...more
I thought this was lovely, but then I'm a Jeffers fan. The story of Thumbelina has always proved oddly intriguing--alternately delightful and disturbing--for me (aided, no doubt, by the very odd experience of seeing human actors dressed as Mole and Bluebird in the Faerie Tale Theater production, ahem!) I must say this version (text) did nothing to clear up the problematic elements although I am still enchanted with the idea of the wee girl living amongst birds...more
Genre: Picture Book - Fairy Tale
Ages: 9-12
Awards: X
Thumbelina is a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that has been retold and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. The sweet story is about a tiny girl named Thumbelina. A woman wanting a child receives a magic seed from an old woman. The seed becomes a blossom with a tiny girl inside. One day, the tiny girl is taken by a toad who wants a wife for her son. With the help of some fish and a butterfly, Thumbelina escapes from th...more
Ages: 9-12
Awards: X
Thumbelina is a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that has been retold and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. The sweet story is about a tiny girl named Thumbelina. A woman wanting a child receives a magic seed from an old woman. The seed becomes a blossom with a tiny girl inside. One day, the tiny girl is taken by a toad who wants a wife for her son. With the help of some fish and a butterfly, Thumbelina escapes from th...more
Thumbelina
Grades: K-4th
Emma Chichester Clark did a marvelous job illustrating this fairy–tale of a miniature princess. The end pages give the reader a tease of the size of Thumbelina and a sense of how easily she could be in danger. The illustrations are drawn with pastel watercolors. The story gives you a sense of a loneliness from the beginning and throughout until the end. The illustrations compliment the account of Thumbelina’s adventure. The text is very descri...more
Grades: K-4th
Emma Chichester Clark did a marvelous job illustrating this fairy–tale of a miniature princess. The end pages give the reader a tease of the size of Thumbelina and a sense of how easily she could be in danger. The illustrations are drawn with pastel watercolors. The story gives you a sense of a loneliness from the beginning and throughout until the end. The illustrations compliment the account of Thumbelina’s adventure. The text is very descri...more
Thumbelina finished off our unit on "little folk" in folklore. The story is enchanting and well-loved, if mostly familiar to the K-2s. This version is illustrated by Brian Pinkney who gives our heroine a bit of color which is a nice change from the usual pale white fairy tale characters. The longing for a child is a common theme amongst this category of stories.
I LOVE THIS BOOK. This was also another favorite of mine when I was little but I had not read it in years. It is an adorable, clever story about a tiny princess searching for true love and avoiding all the frogs in her life. I appreciated the happy ending. This is a perfect example of a far-fetched fairytale that mostly women will enjoy. ;)
great illustrations, nice length for bedtime story when you're a little too sleepy, follows closely to original story. Pairs nicely with movie version (by Disney?). Very evocative story for discussion about how the world can be cruel, how you need to be resilient to make sure people don't take advantage of you.
This story of Thumbelina is well written and the pictures are very vibrant and intreguing. This story is about a small girl who gets kidnapped and is now trying to find her place in this huge world. I think that this is a good story to read to a 4th or 5th grade class, maybe 3rd grade.
Comelibros
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Dentro de la flor, sobre los verdes y aterciopelados estambres, estaba sentada una delicada y graciosa doncellita, cuyo tamaño era escasamente la mitad del largo de un dedo pulgar. Al verla tan pequeña, le dieron el nombre de Pulgarcita.
A shortened retelling of Thumbelina, but the illustrations show a light-skinned Black miniature girl instead of the typical White depiction. However, the culture of the story has not been changed. For those who love the classic fairy tales, this provides a new look.
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Hans Christian Andersen, or simply H.C. Andersen, was a Danish author and poet, most famous for his fairy tales. Among his best-known stories "The Snow Queen", "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "The Ugly Duckling". During Andersen's lifetime he was feted by royalty and acclaimed as having brought joy to children across Europe. His fairy t...more
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