Thumbelina / The Ugly Duckling
Thumbelina
Once there was a woman who wanted a child. A witch who felt pity for her gave a magic seed to her.
She planted it in a flowerpot and watered it, and then a tiny pretty girl emerged from its flower.
The woman named her Thumbelina and took good care of her.
One day, Thumbelina was taken away by a frog who wanted her as a bride for her son…
Thumbelina is chiefly Hans Christian Andersen’s invention and was not well received by Danish critics when it was published.
Today, it is loved by children all over the globe and it also has been adapted to various media such as songs and animated films.
The Ugly Duckling
A mother duck’s eggs hatched. One of the little birds looked homely and acted differently, so he suffered much verbal and physical abuse.
He was called The Ugly Duckling. Because the other ducks made fun of him, he lost confidence in himself, and he wandered around alone.
But one day, he realized he had grown into a swan, the most beautiful bird in the world.
This fairy tale is beloved around the world for its story about personal transformation for the better and it also has been adapted to various media including operas, musicals, animated films, etc.
