A ladder, long forgotten on a lonely lane, sets out to see the world, but finds that people and animals keep using it to climb into the sky and disappear.
Picture Book
The Ugly Duckling
An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.
The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen
A biography of the famous Danish writer of fairy tales, interspersed with excerpts from his stories.
The Tinderbox
With the help of a magic tinderbox given to him by a witch, a soldier finds a fortune and pursues a princess imprisoned in a castle, in an edition of a classic tale of dark adventure.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
One of Hans Christian Andersen’s most romantic tales, The Steadfast Tin Soldier tells the story of a one-legged tin soldier who suffers a terrible fate all for the love of a beautiful paper dancer. Cursed by a jealous goblin, the toy solider is sent flying out the window to the street below, where a perilous adventure carries him ever further from his love. But throughout his ordeal, the soldier remains sturdy and staunch on his one leg, ever true to his beloved little dancer.
The Ugly Duckling
An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.
The Swineherd
A prince disguises himself as a swineherd and learns the true character of the princess he desires. After the author of this story finishes relating it, his animal audience presents an alternative ending.
The Nightingale
Despite being neglected by the emperor for a jewel-studded bird, the little nightingale revives the dying ruler with its beautiful song.
The Wild Swans
Eleven brothers, turned into wild swans by an evil stepmother, are saved by the sacrifices of their beautiful sister, Elise.
Han’s Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale
The hero of this story is a little bird with a very sweet song-so sweet it brings tears to the eyes of the Chinese Emperor and charms Death right back into the graveyard.