Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales Still Teach Us Important Lessons, Values & Virtues

We all know and love the timeless stories of Hans Christian Andersen, but do we really understand who this remarkable author was? Born in 1805 in Odense, Denmark, he is best known for his beloved fairy tales such as “The Little Mermaid,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Ugly Duckling.” But what makes these stories so special?

Hans Christian Andersen had a unique ability to write stories that captured the imagination of children around the world. His characters are often flawed yet lovable figures whose struggles against adversity mirrored those faced by real people. He gave us a true treasure trove of enthralling tales that are brimming with insightful insights and life-changing truths about the world and the human condition. The stories are well known for their intricate and imaginative plots, nuanced characters, and vividly depicted settings, all of which combine to capture young readers’ imaginations and provide important life lessons regarding love, friendship, honesty and persistence.

As examples, readers are taught the virtue of perseverance and self-acceptance in “The Ugly Duckling.” Readers learn about the dangers of pride and the benefits of honesty in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Meanwhile, “The Little Mermaid” explores themes of sacrifice, freedom and young love while presenting young readers with moments of beauty and poignancy that are both understandable and moving. His use of symbolism also made each story memorable;

These stories’ elaborate plots, diverse characters, engaging language and use of symbolism are a great way to inspire and educate young readers. The fanciful and fascinating worlds created by Andersen are a unique resource for fostering young readers’ reading skills as well as empowering them with useful lessons and teachings. Each tale offers something different depending on how you interpret it. This versatility has allowed generations of readers young and old alike to connect with these classic tales in their own ways over time. (All files below are in PDF format.)

112 Fairy Tales By Hans Christian Andersen

1. A Cheerful Temper
2. A Great Sorrow
3. A Leaf from Heaven
4. A Rose from Homer’s Grave
5. A Story from the Sand-Hills
6. A Story
7. Anne Lisbeth
8. Beauty of Form and Beauty of Mind
9. Buckwheat
10. Children’s Prattle
11. Elder-Tree Mother
12. Everything In Its Right Place
13. Grandmother
14. Great Claus And Little Claus
15. Holger Danske
16. Ib and Little Christina
17. It Is Quite True
18. Little Ida’s Flowers
19. Little Thumbelina
20. Little Tiny
21. Little Tuk
22. Ole-Luk-Oie The Dream God
23. She was Good for Nothing
24. Something
25. Soup From A Sausage Skewer
26. Sunshine Stories
27. The Angel
28. The Beetle Who Went On His Travels
29. The Bell, or Nature’s Music
30. The Bell-Deep
31. The Bottle Neck
32. The Brave Tin Soldier
33. The Butterfly
34. The Conceited Apple Branch
35. The Daisy
36. The Darning Needle
37. The Drop of Water
38. The Dumb Book
39. The Elf of the Rose
40. The Elfin Mount
41. The Emperor’s New Clothes
42. The Farmyard Cock And The Weathercock
43. The Fir Tree
44. The Flax
45. The Flying Trunk
46. The Garden Of Paradise
47. The Gardener
48. The Girl Who Trod On the Loaf
49. The Goblin And The Huckster
50. The Golden Treasure
51. The Greenies
52. The Happy Family
53. The Jewish Maiden
54. The Jumpers
55. The Last Dream Of The Old Oak
56. The Last Pearl
57. The Leaping Match
58. The Little Match Girl
59. The Little Mermaid
60. The Little Tuk
61. The Loveliest Rose in the World
62. The Loving Pair
63. The Mail-Coach Passengers
64. The Marsh King’s Daughter
65. The Metal Pig
66. The Mischievous Boy
67. The Money Box
68. The Mother’s Love
69. The Naughty Boy
70. The Nightingale
71. The Old Bachelor’s Nightcap
72. The Old Church Bell
73. The Old Gravestone
74. The Old House
75. The Old Man and the Angel
76. The Old Street Lamp
77. The Pea Blossom
78. The Pen And The Inkstand
79. The Philosopher’s Stone
80. The Portuguese Duck
81. The Puppet-Show Man
82. The Racers
83. The Real Princess
84. The Red Shoes
85. The Roses And The Sparrows
86. The Shadow
87. The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweeper
88. The Shepherd’s Story of the Bond of Friendship
89. The Shirt Collar
90. The Silver Shilling
91. The Snow Man
92. The Snow Queen
93. The Steadfast Tin Soldier
94. The Storks
95. The Story of a Mother
96. The Story of the Wind
97. The Story of the Year
98. The Sunbeam and the Captive
99. The Swineherd
100. The Teapot
101. The Tinder-Box
102. The Top and Ball
103. The Travelling Companion
104. The Ugly Duckling
105. The Wild Swans
106. The Wind’s Tale
107. Tommelise
108. Under the Willow-Tree
109. What Happened To The Thistle
110. What The Goodman Does Is Always Right
111. What the Moon Saw
112. What the Old Man Does Is Always Right

-love learning -your best ed lessons guide, Scott