This is a classic story of a fairy that was born in the flower. This is a good story just to have adventure. She goes through a lot of trials. ( )

This book is all about setting your own path and not letting others set it for you. Several different species of animals wanted to marry Thumbelina, however she did not want to marry any of them. At one point in the story she felt trapped and like she would never be happy. One day, when she was suppose to marry a mole, she decided that she wanted to have her own happiness. She goat a ride on bird and found a young man that she wanted to be with, and they lived happily ever after. ( )

This traditional fairytale was a very cute, imaginative story about finding your own happiness. The descriptions were creative and thorough. I could see a little girl sleeping in a walnut shell with a rose petal for a blanket without the illustrations. One aspect I found lacking was the use of dialogue. The main character hardly spoke while the other characters in the story did most of the conversing. The author does tell what Thumbelina was thinking. I also thought the story had very old ideals, like being told who to marry. The characters in the story treated Thumbelina as an object and they all wanted to marry her at first sight. Thumbelina also was not independent and relied on everyone else to help her. This is unrealistic by today’s standards and is not a good message for young girls. Overall, I thought the story was cute but had no valuable lesson besides finding happiness. ( )

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 readers who like tales of "little people," it has been retold many times.

This edition, adapted and illustrated by Lauren Mills - whose gorgeous artwork can also be seen in the Norwegian folktale, Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins, and Jane Yolen's Elfabet: An ABC of Elves - is probably my favorite, from a visual standpoint. Mills' beautiful watercolor illustrations emphasize Thumbelina's delicate, ethereal beauty, while also capturing the cozy appeal of the mouse's home, and the wonder of the sparrow in flight. I can't say that I was as fond of Mills' adaptation of the narrative - apparently intended to give Thumbelina more agency - as the changes made don't seem to add anything to the story. What is the point, for instance, of having Thumbelina's mother consult the old witch a second time, to discuss her fears of her tiny daughter "leaving the nest?" Still, what changers there were, were minor enough that they didn't detract from the overall appeal. All in all, a beautiful edition of this tale! ( )