Thumbelina

Thumbelina

Elsa Beskow’s charming illustrations bring to life this classic Hans Christian Andersen tale of a thumb-sized girl who has big adventures.

Thumbelina is so small she sleeps in a walnut shell bed with a rose petal sheet. One day, a toad steals her away from her home and keeps her captive on a lilypad, until some fish set her free to find hr way through the countryside.

Will Thumbelina ever find a new home among friends?

Available in English for the first time in thirty years, this beautiful book will be a wonderful addition to the shelves of Elsa Beskow admirers everywhere.

About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, best known for his fairy tales which include The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen and The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Elsa Beskow (1874–1953) was born in Stockholm. Her parents were entrepreneur Bernt Maartman (1841–1889), whose family came from Bergen, Norway, and Augusta Fahlstedt (1850–1915). Beskow studied Art Education at Konstfack, University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, then called Tekniska skolan, or the Technical school, in Stockholm. In 1897, she married former minister and social worker and doctor of theology Natanael Beskow, whom she met while serving as a teacher at Djursholms samskola, where he served as headmaster. They had six sons. Beskow became one of the best known of all Swedish children’s book artists. She also illustrated “ABC” books and songbooks for Swedish schools. Her book pages are often framed in a decorative Art Nouveau style. Beskow received international recognition for her simple, cheerful stories and outstanding illustrations.