Showing results by author "Hans Christian Andersen" in All Categories

In the city of Florence is a bronze statue of a boar, from who’s mouth runs the water that is collected by the people of Florence. One evening, a poor boy came to drink and found a little lettuce and a few chestnuts on the ground, which became his supper. He then fell asleep on the animal’s back, but when midnight sounded, the animal came to life. And so their adventure began! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

The snowman had just been born under the eyes and joyful laughter of children. How he loved the cold! His only problem was the shiny ball in the sky that keep looking at him, without him understanding why... The young snowman still had a lot to learn! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

In the tallest and poorest house in a very narrow winding street, was an attic with a single window. Behind this window, was a bird in a cage; the state of the house and the cage were so miserable that the bird did not even have a cup for drinking: he had to make do with the neck of a bottle closed with a stopper. The bird had no problem with this and sang joyfully - as for the bottle neck, he remembered the good old days when he was still a bottle...

Rudy lived close to the little town of Grindelwald in Switzerland. He lived with his uncle as his parents were both dead. Indeed, Rudy himself had almost died at the same time as his mother: while crossing a glacier, she had fallen into a crevasse while carrying Rudy, who was still a baby. When help arrived, it was too late to save the mother, but, to everyone’s great joy, the baby was rescued. Or almost everyone... The only one who did not rejoice was the Ice Maiden...

"One of you will be hanged, the second imprisoned, the third burned and the fourth turned upside down." This is how the children mocked the family of storks that lived on the roof. This frightened the chicks and, to reassure them, their mother spoke of the long journey they would soon take. And, who knows, perhaps one day they would have their revenge on the little tyrants who mocked them in their nest. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

The general’s family lived on the first floor of the house. The concierge and his wife lived in the cellar. They had a son, Georg, who was allowed to play with Emily, the general’s daughter. The general’s wife required just one thing: that Georg never touch Emily. Despite this prohibition and their difference in status, over the years they spent in the same house they became firm friends. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

In a little house in Marbach, on the banks of the Necker river, lived a poor family. The day that their son was born, the church’s bell was rung to celebrate the newborn’s arrival. At the time, no one questioned the destiny of the child and still less that of the bell! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

"In all the world, no one knows as many stories as Ole-Luk-Oie. He really knows how to tell a tale." Every evening, Ole-Luk-Oie lulled the children with his stories and, one they were asleep, if they were good, he gave them beautiful dreams using his two umbrellas. What is Ole-Luk-Oie’s week like and what stories does he tell? Find out here.

A peasant and his wife owned a horse that grazed in a ditch close to their house. But they thought that it would be better for them to sell it or exchange it for something more useful. The woman sent her husband to town to exchange the horse - she trusted him because "what the old man does Is always right"! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

In every peasant dwelling, lives a goblin, a small invisible creature, who plays all kinds of tricks on the inhabitants. At least, that is what the peasants believe, but one woman, the gardener’s wife, did not believe this. Yet, they really do exist, and the little goblin who lived in the gardener’s house was very angry that the woman did not believe in him! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

One day a Portuguese duck arrived at the duck house. Some said she came from Spain, but from then on all her descendants were called ‘Portuguese’. Today, there is only one Portuguese duck at the duck house - and it is she who takes care of the song bird who fell from the roof while the cat was chasing it...

An old street lamp is at the end of its working life. It has had a long life and lots of people know it. So, friends come to visit on its last night on the job. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist. Celebrated for children’s literature, his most cherished fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Little Match Girl".

A long time ago, the Emperor of China lived in a magnificent palace made of fine china and surrounded by a splendid garden that was so big that even the gardener did not know it all. One day, the Emperor read a book that told him that most marvellous bird was the nightingale and so he asked his court to find him one because he wanted to hear it sing that very evening. But, where could one be found? - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

Little Ida liked the student, who always had a tale to tell, a lot. So, one morning, when little Ida's flowers had all withered, she asked the student what could have happened to them.

What is truth? What better way to learn about the topic of truth than through the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen? The storyline of these fairy tales offers a wonderful platform to think about and discuss truth and its ethical and moral aspects. A collection for the curious and empathetic young and adult readers, who would like to dive into the magical world of the beloved author.

B.J. Harrison reads one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, "The Snow Queen". The devil, who has taken the shape of an evil troll, has created a mirror that freezes the heart and turns everything ugly. But the mirror breaks and shard spread out throughout the world. Years later, two children named Kai and Gerda hear the story of a terrible Snow Queen. Soon Kai and Gerda are drawn into the world of the mirror and the Snow Queen, who has the power to make everyone forget all that is good.

While the town judge was at his window, the son of the washerwoman passed before him. The judge said him unkind words to him about his mother. She drank to keep warm during the long days she spent washing in the freezing water of the river. He even told her son that she was good for nothing.

Aunt Mille has always told me that I have the soul of a great poet. I am not sure about this, but I love her so much that I do not dare contradict her. The reason I love her so much is that she always gave me and my brothers and sisters lots of sweets when we were little. Now that I am a student, I have my own apartment and sometimes Aunt Mille comes to visit. The other night, while she was sleeping in the next bedroom, I received a visit from another, much less pleasant, lady...

A long time ago, in Copenhagen, there lived an old bachelor who lived alone in a small shack and always slept with a nightcap that he pulled well down over his face. People laughed at his strange attire. However, there was a story behind this nightcap and, if it had been widely know, they would have mocked him less.

On the top of a cliff overlooking the sea was an oak tree that was 365 years old. It was an unimaginable age for the mayflies, tiny creatures who lived only one day. The oak only slept during the winter. The rest of the year, he remained alert. That year, like every year, he began to lose his leaves in autumn. He knew that he was about to go to sleep for the last time! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.