A is for Anderson, H.C.

I decided instead of writing about books, I would write about the authors for this round of blogging through the alphabet. The ones that made a difference in my life.

And so, “A” must be for Hans Christian Andersen.

Hans Christian Anderson – Where He Fits In History

Hans was born in Odsense, a small town in Denmark, in 1805. This was the same year that Michigan organized as a territory, Lewis and Clark catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, Napoleon crowned himself and rampaged about Europe, and our intrepid U.S. Marines planted the US flag on the shores of Tripoli.

His Stories

Anderson wrote 150 stories for children. What sets them apart from so many other tellers of fairy tales is the heart and soul of the gentle author that leaks out into each paragraph. Some you definitely know, like The Snow Queen or The Little Match Girl, but there are others you probably don’t know that you are sure to enjoy.

When my children were younger, about 5th or 6th grade, I read all 150 aloud to them. I discovered then that more than any other set of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen’s stories are written to be read aloud. The phrasing and pacing match the ebb and flow of excitement and adventure in the story in a perfect way. The result are stories that entrance.

The book to find is The Complete Fairy Tales.

Something Special To Share With Your Children

But it was not until I discovered an online interactive version of a picture book that Hans Christian Anderson wrote for a little girl named Marie that I realized how deeply he loved children.

Anyone with an internet connection can explore this picture book. The actual book is in a Hans Christian Andersen museum in Odsense. Happily you can see the book on the museum’s web page.

You and your children can explore a handmade picture book in which little Marie has an adventure that includes cameo appearances of many of his fairy tale characters. The book is hand-written with wonderfully detailed illustrations and through the glory of technology your child can ‘grab’ a magnifying glass and explore all the details on each page. Here is the link to the book.

An Extraordinary Extra For You

I recently picked up a copy of Jane Yolen’s new book called The Emerald Circus. This is her first collection of short stories for adults in many, many years. You probably know her from the children’s picture books she wrote. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight was a favorite in our home.

The Emerald Circus begins with a story that weaves the life of Andersen into one of his own stories with reverence and care. His true-life personality is drawn with such loving kindness by Yolen in this story and the best part is the ending. I won’t spoil it for you, but you really should pick the book up at the library and give it a read!