[Book Review] Fairy Tale Thumbelina by HC Andersen

Sinopsis Thumbelina : 

Guide to early childhood development hidden in masterpiece fairy tales

Thumbelina, born in a flower, goes through many things.

She realizes that she is a flower fairy.

I found my own identity.

Like Thumbelina, children go through many conflicts and anxieties to find a stable identity. Although it is a difficult process, it is also an opportunity for psychological growth. Thumbelina is a story that helps children find their identity.

Fairy Tale Thumbelina : 

There was an old woman who lived alone and lonely. My grandmother always thought it would be nice to have a child. 

One night, a fairy came by and gave the grandmother a flower seed. 

“Plant these flower seeds and grow them well.”

Grandma planted flower seeds in a flower pot and placed them in a sunny window.

I took good care of it, giving it plenty of water every day.

The flower has finally bloomed.

When the grandmother looked closely, she saw a girl sleeping peacefully inside the flower.

The grandmother was very happy to have a beautiful girl.

This child is as big as a thumb, so we should call her Thumbelina.

Thumbelina slept every night in a bed made of walnut shells.

Then one night it happened.

A toad jumped in.

Wow, she’s such a pretty girl. We should marry her to our son.

The toad secretly carried the sleeping Thumbelina.

The next morning, Thumbelina woke up with a surprise. I looked here and there, but there was only water all around, and there was only a bed on top of water lily leaves.

“Grandma, where are you?”

While Thumbelina was sobbing, a creepy-looking toad came running. “Hello! Did you sleep well? We’re getting married today. I’ll come pick you up in a little while.”

Thumbelina was scared and cried. The fish heard the sound and gathered together. 

"Help. I don’t want to marry a toad.”

The fish felt sorry for Thumbelina.

So I cut off the water lily stem with my mouth.

“Goodbye. Please be happy!”

Thumbelina, riding on a lily pad, drifted along with the current. But suddenly a beetle flew out.

Hahaha, she’s a cute girl. I’ll make her my maid. Everyone will be jealous, right?

The scarab took Thumbelina to her friends.

“How are you, my bride? Are you pretty?”

“Egyekye, it only has two legs and no whiskers or antennae.”

Scarab got angry when his friends teased him.

So I left Thumbelina behind.

It flew away with a purr.

Thumbelina wandered through the forest alone. I was so hungry and exhausted that I felt like I was going to collapse.

“Oh my! What can I do with this?"

“Would you like to come to my house with me?”

A field mouse who was passing through the forest looked at Thumbelina and said.

The field mouse’s house was in the ground. A mole who lived next door came to visit and fell in love with Thumbelina at first sight.

“She’s such a pretty girl. I want to marry her.”

Thumbelina's heart sank.

“Mr. Mole is very kind and rich.” 

The field mouse praised her earnestly, but Thumbelina did not want to marry the mole. If you marry a mole, you have to live underground. Thumbelina came out.

How can I live without seeing this beautiful sunlight?

Thumbelina was wandering through the forest and came across a swallow that had collapsed with a damaged wing.

“Oh my! It must hurt a lot.”

Thumbelina tore off her apron and bandaged the swallow's wounds.

Read this : [Book Review - Fairy Tale from Swedish] The Boy Who Visited The North Wind

The next day, and the day after that, Thumbelina went to the swallow.

A few days later, the swallow's wounds healed completely. I was able to fly in the sky again.

“Miss, would you like to come with me?

“I am on my way to the land of flowers.”

“But I have to go back home to my grandmother. I miss her.”

“If I go to the Land of Flowers, I might be able to find out how to return home.” 

Thumbelina went to the Land of Flowers with the swallow.

The land of flowers was very beautiful. A variety of colorful flowers were in full bloom.

“Welcome, Thumbelina.

“Actually, you are a flower fairy,” said the Prince of the Land of Flowers as he welcomed Thumbelina.

I sent you as a flower seed to make my lonely grandmother happy.

Thumbelina wrote a letter to her grandmother.

'Don't worry, Grandma, Thumbelina is living happily in the land of flowers!'

The swallow delivered a letter to grandmother.

I also sent flower seeds with pretty flowers. This is a gift from the flower fairy Thumbelina to her grandmother.

Thumbelina - Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen : 

Thumbelina is a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1873), the eternal friend of children. 

Bolstoy read the fairy tale written by Andersen and said, "Andersen must have been a scary person. Otherwise, how could he hear the sound of flowers whispering in the middle of the night?" “Can you do it?”

Andersen, who had rich emotions and talent, was loved by many, but he did not get along well with people. 

He couldn't get close to poor people in similar situations, and he couldn't break through the cold wall of upper society, which somehow discriminated against him. 

Maybe it was because he lived a solitary life that he was able to write such wonderful fairy tales.

By reading Thumbelina, we can see how Andersen viewed the world. It is that if you endure and overcome hardships, good things will come. 

Thumbelina is also the image of a child who does not yet know the world and does not know what to do. But it shows that even if difficulties come, if you do your best and persevere without giving up hope, you can eventually find happiness.

What was it like meeting Thumbelina?

After you finish reading the fairy tale, just don't put it on. I'm not finished reading the book yet. It is said that the person who reads the picture book determines the value of the picture book. Also, the story shared with mom and dad after reading the book makes the child like reading more and makes the child feel that it is something special. 

Think about the contents of the fairy tale and share it with your child. Switch to the way you speak to your child and ask questions naturally. You will be able to see more into the kind hearts of your children.

1. What was your grandmother’s wish if she lived alone?

2. Talk about how your grandmother felt when Thumbelina was born.

3 Who helped Thumbelina as she searched for her home?

4 How was Thumbelina able to go to the land of flowers?

5. What is your earnest wish?

It is important to realize the lessons planted in spiritual circles and to discuss your feelings and thoughts with your parents. Rather than asking the child one-sidedly, “Mom thinks this, are you a mother?” 

Let's lead the conversation. Even if your child can't answer easily and is a neighbor, don't press him.

Go through the book with your child again, carefully. Little by little, your child will learn how to count and express himself.