"Far out to sea the water is as blue as the petals of the loveliest cornflower, and as clear as the purest glass, but it is very deep, deeper than any anchorage chain can reach, and many church towers would have to be put one on top of another to reach from the bottom to the surface of the water. Down there live the mer-folk." From the very beginning of "The Little Mermaid" we know we are in the hands of a master storyteller. Hans Andersen wrote over one hundred sixty fairy tales and stories and this collection features twenty-six of his very best tales.

Chosen and translated by L.W. Kingsland, the stories in this collection are perfect for reading aloud. They include all the old favorites, along with some less familiar stories, such as The Travelling Companion and Soup on a Sausage Stick.

In Hans Andersen's world you will encounter the dog with eyes as big as towers, tiny Thumbelina who sleeps in a walnut shell, the terrifying Snow Queen and the sad little Mermaid, the steadfast tin soldier, the ugly duckling, and a throng of other characters, all touched by the special charm of their creator. As Andersen himself says, "Well, now, let's begin and when we come to the end of the story we shall know more than we do now!"

About the Translator:

L. W. Kingsland was born and educated in London. In addition to translating from the Danish, he has translated books from Norwegian and Swedish.

About the Illustrator:

Rachel Birkett is a popular children's book illustrator.