It was Hans Christian Andersen who brought us the story of "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and other classic folk and fairy tales, legends and myths, such as the "The Princess and the Pea" and "Thumbelina." Since Andersen wrote in the 1800s, Hollywood has taken a crack at his stories and innumerable illustrated works for children have been written based on them. As is so often the case, the book is better than the movie. Andersen's original tales for children have appeal beyond the many abbreviated versions made since. In this edition, the reader is invited into the imagination of Hans Christian Andersen.