The Steadfast Tin Soldier is the first story Andersen wrote without a folktale source or literary model, so it stands as a completely original work of the imagination, which changed the fairytale genre for all time. "There were once five-and-twenty tin soldiers. They were all brothers, born of the same old tin spoon...All looked exactly alike except one. He looked a little different as he had been cast last of all. The tin was short, so he had only one leg...But just you see, he'll be the remarkable one." So begins Andersen's classic tale of good and evil; purity and personality; fate and grace. In this boldly-illustrated contemporary retelling, Yoon takes on the harshness and poignancy of the story, leaving readers with the sense that nothing is ever lost-it just changes shape and continues anew. JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and printmaker committed to the art of bookmaking. She enjoys combining illustration with design and using both traditional and industrial printing techniques. Rather than a single approach, she tries to match the tone of each project. She strives to create picture books that work on many levels and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
This book is aimed at children at US kindergarten-4th grade.
This book has been graded for interest at 6-9 years.
There are 64 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 2016 by Enchanted Lion Books .
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". JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and printmaker committed to the art of bookmaking. She enjoys combining illustration with design whenever possible and using both traditional and industrial printing techniques for her projects. Rather than a single approach, she tries to match the tone of each project. She strives to create picture books that work on many levels and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
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.
