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The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Steadfast Tin Soldier is the first story Andersen wrote without a folktale source or literary model, so it stands as a completely original work of the imagination, which changed the fairytale genre for all time.
"There were once five-and-twenty tin soldiers. They were all brothers, born of the same old tin spoon. . . . All looked exactly alike except one. He looked a little different as he had been cast last of all. The tin was short, so he had only one leg. . . . But just you see, he'll be the remarkable one."
So begins Andersen's classic tale of good and evil; purity and personality; fate and grace. In this boldly-illustrated contemporary retelling, Yoon takes on the harshness and poignancy of the story, leaving readers with the sense that nothing is ever lost—it just changes shape and continues anew.
JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and printmaker committed to the art of bookmaking. She enjoys combining illustration with design and using both traditional and industrial printing techniques. Rather than a single approach, she tries to match the tone of each project. She strives to create picture books that work on many levels and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
"There were once five-and-twenty tin soldiers. They were all brothers, born of the same old tin spoon. . . . All looked exactly alike except one. He looked a little different as he had been cast last of all. The tin was short, so he had only one leg. . . . But just you see, he'll be the remarkable one."
So begins Andersen's classic tale of good and evil; purity and personality; fate and grace. In this boldly-illustrated contemporary retelling, Yoon takes on the harshness and poignancy of the story, leaving readers with the sense that nothing is ever lost—it just changes shape and continues anew.
JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and printmaker committed to the art of bookmaking. She enjoys combining illustration with design and using both traditional and industrial printing techniques. Rather than a single approach, she tries to match the tone of each project. She strives to create picture books that work on many levels and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 26, 2017
A wonderful story about determination and dedication. The Tin Soldier was crafted alongside his brothers, but ended up with only one leg when there was not enough tin. Soon after arriving on the scene, the Tin Soldier notices the Paper Ballerina and falls instantly in love. However, he is cursed by a troll, who also wants the heart of the ballerina. When the Toy Soldier falls from the windowsill, he begins an epic journey, pining to get back, but never giving up hope. By the end, he is able to briefly reunite with his Paper Ballerina, but their time is short. Neo was quite enthralled by this piece, but knew little about it (as did I). This touching story shows children the importance of having passions and wanting to strive for good, even if it is far out of reach.
December 2, 2016
I read the Joohee Yoon version published by Enchanted Lion. I found the red and black colors and almost harsh style to be perfect for this somber story.
December 28, 2017
Η ιστορία μας μαγεύει όσες φορές κι αν τη διαβάσουμε και η εικονογράφηση είναι πραγματικά πρωτότυπη!
July 5, 2018
This review is for the version done by JooHee Yoon, ISBN 9781592702022.
I really enjoyed this retelling, and Yoon's illustrations, using only black, white, and red, are extremely striking. I had forgotten about this story and this was a good way to revisit it.
I really enjoyed this retelling, and Yoon's illustrations, using only black, white, and red, are extremely striking. I had forgotten about this story and this was a good way to revisit it.
March 11, 2018
FABLE
Target Audience: Elementary aged children
A graphic cover caught my eye in the library for Joon’s version of the only Hans Christian Andersen fable to be written originally by him. A one legged tin soldier falls in love with a ballerina who he mistakenly perceives as also having one leg. But alas, a bullying troll (are there any trolls that are not bullies?) becomes jealous and according to the Tin Soldier plots to have him fall out a window. After a rather perilous journey, he is returned to the toy table to be reunited with his love. Although, their love is not meant to be forever and the ending is quite sad.
The artwork is highly effective and has a graphically pleasing palette. Joon uses a simple color palette of red, black, cream and a silvery gray. Texture and depth are achieved by the wood block like patterns. Extensive use of varying textures delivers plenty for the reader to explore. The color theme echoes a child's perspective and provides a compelling background for the soldier's adventures. The text is chunky and bold and changes colors depending on the background. In the climax, the text burns red. This is a gorgeous designed book!
Lesson ideas: Compare to the movie Toy Story, write a narrative about what your toys do when you go to sleep.
Target Audience: Elementary aged children
A graphic cover caught my eye in the library for Joon’s version of the only Hans Christian Andersen fable to be written originally by him. A one legged tin soldier falls in love with a ballerina who he mistakenly perceives as also having one leg. But alas, a bullying troll (are there any trolls that are not bullies?) becomes jealous and according to the Tin Soldier plots to have him fall out a window. After a rather perilous journey, he is returned to the toy table to be reunited with his love. Although, their love is not meant to be forever and the ending is quite sad.
The artwork is highly effective and has a graphically pleasing palette. Joon uses a simple color palette of red, black, cream and a silvery gray. Texture and depth are achieved by the wood block like patterns. Extensive use of varying textures delivers plenty for the reader to explore. The color theme echoes a child's perspective and provides a compelling background for the soldier's adventures. The text is chunky and bold and changes colors depending on the background. In the climax, the text burns red. This is a gorgeous designed book!
Lesson ideas: Compare to the movie Toy Story, write a narrative about what your toys do when you go to sleep.
November 3, 2023
This was one of those books where I got done reading it and I thought, "What the heck did I just read?"
I didn't really care for the color scheme, which was all grayscale and red, and it wasn't like the really old books where that was all you could do. That was what the illustrator chose.
A tin soldier only has one leg because the maker only had that much tin left. I would have just not made another soldier and saved myself the trouble of reading this odd story. Anyway, he goes to a boy, and he likes a paper ballerina, but so does a troll.
The story takes a turn for the better when the soldier falls out a window and takes a journey on a paper boat down a river. He gets eaten by a fish, and the fish just so happens to get caught and bought at a market by the cook at the boy's house.
The ending was super, super bizarre.
I didn't really care for the color scheme, which was all grayscale and red, and it wasn't like the really old books where that was all you could do. That was what the illustrator chose.
A tin soldier only has one leg because the maker only had that much tin left. I would have just not made another soldier and saved myself the trouble of reading this odd story. Anyway, he goes to a boy, and he likes a paper ballerina, but so does a troll.
The story takes a turn for the better when the soldier falls out a window and takes a journey on a paper boat down a river. He gets eaten by a fish, and the fish just so happens to get caught and bought at a market by the cook at the boy's house.
The ending was super, super bizarre.
October 27, 2019
I picked up this book from the library on the recommendation of a trusted author/illustrator I met and I was not disappointed. I was not familiar with the Hans Christian Anderson story (which I'm a bit embarrassed to admit) but I was sure I would at least like the story because, well, HCA! I loved the story and I loved the illustrations just as much. The illustrations fit with the story so well it seemed like a classic version rather than a rather recent rendering of the story. And it gives me hope that maybe such classic story types and illustration styles will make a comeback, as sometimes contemporary style picture books just have little to no personality, which makes me lament for children who never experience those classic forms.
August 4, 2017
This was Anderson's first story that didn't riff on traditional tales, although it still ends up with that same feel. I'm torn - The Steadfast Tin Soldier has always seemed like one of those fairy tales that was more for adults than children. Still, what wonderful tragedy. Yoon's illustrations bring a new life to the tale.
July 10, 2017
The illustrations by JooHee Yoon are beautiful, and remind me of Charles Keating.
July 29, 2017
for that one bright moment, was it worth it? ask yourself often
August 7, 2017
Not a story I am too fond of, but the illustrations are amazing and the cover is striking. A well-chosen pairing of text and images both inside and out.
January 30, 2018
The classic Has Christian Anderson tale is told in modernist blockprint-style illustrations. This book feels like a very hip update to the tale.
December 20, 2018
Incredible language. A truly beautiful love story for young and old alike.
May 31, 2019
Incredible artwork fits this dark, somber story perfectly. I loved it but honestly this would not be ideal read aloud for a storytime. It's kind of scary!
December 23, 2019
Classic fairy tale of a passionate but doomed love between a broken toy soldier and the paper doll he loves. Great story by HCA with remarkable illustrations.
December 19, 2020
This story was wack. Also it had a depressing ending.
June 23, 2021
I hadn't read this story in many years and decided to buy a copy to share with my godchildren. Yoon's artwork is wonderful and captures the surreal "life" of the tin soldier.
October 19, 2021
illustrated in red, black, gray, and white, thus reminiscent of illustrated children's books from the early 20th century....
December 4, 2023
I mean, I’m not familiar with the original folktale, but I didn’t care much for it. The only good thing was Yoon’s illustrations, but even they weren’t as strong as I usually find them. 🤷🏼♀️
July 20, 2024
Art's neat. Story's kinda creepy. Maybe not for littles
September 19, 2024
2nd Annual Translated Children's Book Month : Book 9/30
...wtf was that book? I know I joke that translated books are always bleak, but this is on a different level.
...wtf was that book? I know I joke that translated books are always bleak, but this is on a different level.
December 14, 2017
I was not familiar with this Fairy Tale. Beautiful illustrations in this edition but holy cow, this is a sad story. Just not my cup of tea...
October 9, 2016
The cover of the book didn't draw me in, with its geometric neon designs, but once I started reading, I was hooked. Have I never read this story before? What a tragic life for this one-legged toy!
October 31, 2017
What a stunning rendering of this classic tale. Enchanted Lion Books never fails to come through. Joohee Yoon submits the story in red, black, silver and white, and the first few pages set up the story (factory fire, assembly line, and box of tin solders) and handily contain the title, illustrator and press.
Very modern retelling; stark, edgy and dramatic. Hard to say which spread is my favorite, though the fish that swallowed the soldier puts the red to good use on the cook's table. A must have for a modern children's book collection.
JooHee Yoon is a talented illustrator and printmaker. Her illustrations feature intricate detailing, use of soft contrasting colour tones and a seeming soft-spot for animals. She creates most of her pieces using a range of traditional printmaking techniques, and regularly contributes to publications such as the New York Times, Le Monde and the Washington Post, in addition to working on her own book projects. JooHee’s original pieces have been exhibited in gallery shows throughout the world, including the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Another wonderful book she has illustrated is Beastly Verse.
Very modern retelling; stark, edgy and dramatic. Hard to say which spread is my favorite, though the fish that swallowed the soldier puts the red to good use on the cook's table. A must have for a modern children's book collection.
JooHee Yoon is a talented illustrator and printmaker. Her illustrations feature intricate detailing, use of soft contrasting colour tones and a seeming soft-spot for animals. She creates most of her pieces using a range of traditional printmaking techniques, and regularly contributes to publications such as the New York Times, Le Monde and the Washington Post, in addition to working on her own book projects. JooHee’s original pieces have been exhibited in gallery shows throughout the world, including the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Another wonderful book she has illustrated is Beastly Verse.
November 14, 2025
Η ιστορία περιγράφει έναν μονοπόδαρο μολυβένιο στρατιώτη που ερωτεύεται μια χάρτινη μπαλαρίνα. Ένα ταξίδι γεμάτο ατυχίες τον απομακρύνει από το σπίτι. Τελικά, επιστρέφει στην αγαπημένη του.
Περιέχει και άλλα παραμύθια
-Ο φτωχός και ο πλούσιος χορεύουν με τους αγγέλους υπό τη μουσική καμπάνας που μόνο αυτοί που θέλουν και μπορούν ακούν.
-Φτώχεια, μοναξιά , εξάντληση και κρύο για μια μικρούλα που ονειρεύεται και πεθαίνει τα Χριστούγεννα
-΄Ενα παπάκι διαφορετικό που όλοι χλευάζουν γιατί δεν μπορούν να καταλάβουν πως είναι ένας υπέροχος κύκνος
-Δυο μικρά πορσελάνινα ανθρωπάκια που ονειρεύονται
-Η γοργόνα , ο παράξενος έρωτας και η θυσία για την αγάπη
-Ο ίσκιος που φεύγει και παριστάνει τον άνθρωπο. Τραγικό , κάτι σαν το διάβολο μου κάνει
-και τέλος πόση σημασία δίνουμε στα λόγια των άλλων και πόσο ευκολόπιστοι είμαστε
Σύσταση:Από τα βιβλία που σε κάνουν να χαμογελάς με θλίψη
Περιέχει και άλλα παραμύθια
-Ο φτωχός και ο πλούσιος χορεύουν με τους αγγέλους υπό τη μουσική καμπάνας που μόνο αυτοί που θέλουν και μπορούν ακούν.
-Φτώχεια, μοναξιά , εξάντληση και κρύο για μια μικρούλα που ονειρεύεται και πεθαίνει τα Χριστούγεννα
-΄Ενα παπάκι διαφορετικό που όλοι χλευάζουν γιατί δεν μπορούν να καταλάβουν πως είναι ένας υπέροχος κύκνος
-Δυο μικρά πορσελάνινα ανθρωπάκια που ονειρεύονται
-Η γοργόνα , ο παράξενος έρωτας και η θυσία για την αγάπη
-Ο ίσκιος που φεύγει και παριστάνει τον άνθρωπο. Τραγικό , κάτι σαν το διάβολο μου κάνει
-και τέλος πόση σημασία δίνουμε στα λόγια των άλλων και πόσο ευκολόπιστοι είμαστε
Σύσταση:Από τα βιβλία που σε κάνουν να χαμογελάς με θλίψη
December 6, 2016
A fine story if you want your child to go to bed with nightmares!
September 24, 2024
Too bleak for my 6 year old to appreciate but it was solid for me and my husband.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews