This collection of stories by Hans Christian Andersen are timeless classics. Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Nightingale, The Princess and the Pea, The Little Mermaid, and more included in a book that is easily designed for reading to young children.

The illustrations are intricate, detailed, and classical.

I read the short story "The Little Swineherd" from the collection, and was impressed by the humour that was given to the story, as well as the not-so-happy ending for the Princess. In the story, the Prince dresses himself as a swineherd and makes countless gifts to give to the Princess in the hopes that she will agree to marry him. She exchanges these gifts for kisses, and eventually they are expelled from the kingdom together only to find that the Prince now finds her to be a silly girl not worth marrying at all. He returns to the kingdom and she is left outside the gates.

While a young child may not fully grasp every aspect of the story, the language is such that a parent can enjoy telling it, while enjoying the story as well. ( )