Thumbelina, a Fairy Tale

Thumbelina is a charming fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, and it has been called 'the most delightful fairy tale you could wish for'. The story is about quite a tiny, little girl, and her adventure with toads, moles, and cockchafers. 'Thumbelina' is the first of Andersen's tales to focus on the sufferings of someone who is different, as at the beginning of the tale, Thumbelina is the only one her tiny size. It reflects on mockery and powerlessness, before a happy ending in which Thumbelina finds love and empowerment. As such, it is one of the many classic tales essential for the healthy development of children's minds, through the symbolic resolving of their fears and doubts.