THUMBELIN

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A story by Hans Christian Andersen retold by Joy CowleyIllustrated by Hye-won Yang

Original Korean text by Hee-jeong Yoon

Illustration by Hye-won Yang

Korean edition © Yeowon Media Co., Ltd

This English edition published by Big & Small in 2014

English text edited by Joy Cowley

English edition © Big & Small 2014

Printed in Korea

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-921790-38-6

ThumbelinaA story by the Brothers Grimm retold by Joy Cowley Illustrated by Hye-won Yang

Once there was a womanwho longed for a child.A fairy gave the woman a seedto plant in her garden.The seed grew into a plantand the plant grew a flower bud.

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Inside the flower was a little girl,no bigger than a thumb.The woman said to the girl,“You are the most beautiful childin the whole wide world.I will call you Thumbelina.”

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The woman made a walnut-shell bedand a flower-petal blanket for Thumbelina.She placed petals on the water in a bowlso Thumbelina could float around.“I love you, Thumbelina,” said the woman.“I love you too, Mother,” said Thumbelina.

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Thumbelina was very happyuntil the night a big mama toadsaw her asleep in her bed.“She will make a good bridefor my son,” said the toad,and she took Thumbelinato the swamp where she lived.

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When Thumbelina woke up,she saw the mama toad’s sonlooking at her with an ugly smile.She was very afraid.“I want to go home!” she cried.

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Some fish heard her criesand they felt sorry for her.“That lovely girl can’t marrythat ugly toad,” they said.They cut the stalk of her lily padand it floated away downstream.

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Thumbelina came to a land of flowers.The sun shone. Soft breezes blew.There was plenty of nectar for food,and a swallow sang sweet songs.But summer did not last.

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Cold weather came and the flowers died.There was nothing to eat. Poor Thumbelina!Shivering with cold, she wandereduntil she came to a little housewhere a field mouse lived.

The field mouse said, “Come inside!”“I will give you something to eat.”

All winter, the girl stayed with the mouse.

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One day, a neighbour came to see them.The field mouse said, “Thumbelina,this is my friend Mr. Mole.He is rich and handsome.”

The mole was blind but he still fell in lovewith Thumbelina, and he invited herto visit his house under the ground.

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In the dark passage of Mr. Mole’s house,Thumbelina found the swallowlying on its back with closed eyes.

The kind girl could not sleep that night.She made a blanket of hayand put it over the swallow.“Farewell, pretty bird,” she said.“Thank you for the songsyou sang to me last summer.”

But then she felt the swallow’s heart.It was still beating! The bird was alive!Thumbelina nursed the swallowback to health.

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When warm spring weather came,the swallow flew away,singing a song to Thumbelina.

The little girl missed the swallowbut now Mr. Mole came to see heralmost every day.

“Mr. Mole wants to marry you,”the field mouse said.

“No! I don’t want to marry him!”

But the field mouse went aheadand planned the wedding.

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Thumbelina was very sad.She did not want to live in a tunnel under the ground.“Farewell, shiny sun! Farewell sky!Farewell beautiful trees and flowers!”

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On the day of the wedding,the swallow came back.“Thumbelina, come with me!I will take you to a landwhere it is always summer.”

“Oh, yes!” cried Thumbelinaand she sat on the swallow’s back.The bird flew far away to a beautiful land of sunshine.

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When he saw her, the prince took off his crown and put it on Thumbelina’s head. “Will you marry me and be my queen?”

“I will be glad to marry you,” Thumbelina said.

So Thumbelina became queen of the beautiful summer land,and she lived happily ever after.

The swallow put Thumbelina down near a fragrant red flower. Inside the flower was a prince the same size as Thumbelina.

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