With her signature warmth and lyricism, Newbery winner Cynthia Rylant has crafted a new version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a tin soldier who falls in love with a ballerina. As in the original story, the tin soldiers love for the beautiful ballerina is thwarted by a goblin. The tin soldier is separated from the other toys and washed down a sewer, where he encounters a rat and gets swallowed by a fish, but somehow, against all odds, he manages to end up back home only to be cast into the nursery fire. Rylant adds her own twist to the end of the tale, however, for in this version, the tin soldier and the ballerina are melded to each other, rather than melted, in the heat of the fire, so theyll never be parted again. Rylants expert storytelling paired with Coraces stunning illustrations create a beautiful, unforgettable tale of everlasting love.Praise for The Steadfast Tin SoldierSTARRED REVIEW"Rylant preserves the story's character-building insistence on the soldier's decorum throughout his ordeal. At the same time, the sight of him in his dress uniform, bayonet at the ready, lodged upside down in a garden bed or lying patiently in the belly of the huge fish will make readers smile."Publishers Weekly, starred review"Gracefully written... The books large format gives plenty of scope for Coraces distinctive illustrations, precise ink drawings brightened with watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paints. Sometimes brilliantly colorful and sometimes more subdued, the scenes can be crowded with dozens of toys or other visual elements, but they show up well from a distance. The subtle depictions of the goblin and his shadow are particularly fine. A softened vision of the literary fairy tale."Booklist"The distinctive illustrations capture both the storys melodrama and playful appeal, such as when two boys salute the tin soldier as his newspaper boat speeds along the fast-moving gutter stream. This spirited retelling reinvigorates this classic tale."School Library Journal"Rylant is an appealing storyteller, and though she lets the soldier stay forevermore with the little dancer, that romantic outcome may suit those who find the Danes bittersweet ending hard to bear."HornBook"Corace uses a largely pastel-color palette to match the authors words. Mixed media flesh out the story. Their work together provides a powerful presentation in this oversize picture book. This is an excellent choice to compare with other versions of the classic tale."Library Media Connection
There are 32 pages in this book.
This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+).
This book was published in 2013 by Abrams .
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author and poet, most famous for his writing down of many timeless, classic fairy tales. He is Denmark's most famous author and his birthday is celebrated every year with a part called "Odin Story Day". CYNTHIA RYLANT lives on an island in Puget Sound, Washington. LAUREN STRINGER lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rose A. Lewis is the author of numerous children's books, including the New York Times bestseller I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. Jen Corace is the bestselling author-illustrator of Little Pea and many other books.
This book contains the following story:
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1838. The story is about a tin soldier with one leg who falls in love with a paper ballerina. Here is a summary of the tale:
The story begins with a young boy receiving a set of toy soldiers for his birthday. All the soldiers are exactly alike except for one, who is missing a leg. Despite his imperfection, the tin soldier stands steadfastly at attention and catches the eye of a beautiful paper ballerina in the boy's room. The soldier is captivated by her grace and beauty.
One day, a strong gust of wind blows the window open, and the paper ballerina is knocked off the table and falls into the street below. The tin soldier, without hesitation, jumps after her. Thus begins a series of perilous adventures for the steadfast tin soldier. He encounters various challenges, including a storm drain, a fish, and even a dangerous encounter with a boy who throws him into the fire. Through it all, the tin soldier remains unwavering and courageous.
Eventually, the tin soldier is swallowed by a fish. Inside the fish, he finds the paper ballerina, who has also been swallowed. In this confined space, the tin soldier and the ballerina declare their love for each other.
The fish is caught by a fisherman, and when he cuts it open, he finds the tin soldier and the ballerina. However, a series of events, including a jealous goblin and a final adventure in a paper boat, lead to a tragic end for the tin soldier. In the end, the tin soldier is consumed by fire, but his love for the ballerina remains unshaken.
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a tale of love, bravery, and unwavering devotion. It reflects themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love even in the face of adversity.
