Among the most beloved fairy tales in literature, the stories of Hans Christian Andersen have been delighting children and adults for generations. Their simplicity, humor, imaginative power, and universality have made them classics all over the world. Now readers can enjoy eight favorite tales from the great Danish storyteller: "The Ugly Duckling, " "The Red Shoes, " "Thumbelina, " "The Emperor’s New Clothes, " "The Steadfast Tin Soldier, " "The Little Match Girl, " "The Princess and the Pea, " and "The Nightingale." Newly reset in large easy-to-read type, these stories invite youngsters to enter a magical kingdom of fable fantasy and adventure. Adults, too, will find much of interest here, for the stories often contain elements only fully appreciated by older readers. In short, as Andersen himself insisted, these tales were written for all ages. Gathered together in this inexpensive volume, they represent hours of enjoyable entertainment in the company of one of the world’s great storytellers. Six delightful illustrations by Harriet Golden enhance the text.