Hans Christian Andersen

Hello there. My name is Hans Christian Andersen. I was born a long, long time ago, on April 2nd, 1805, in a little town in Denmark called Odense. When I was a little boy, I didn’t have many toys, but I had something even better: a giant imagination. I loved making my own puppets and creating a tiny theater to put on shows for anyone who would watch. My head was always buzzing with magical stories.

When I was just fourteen, I packed my little bag and moved to the big, busy city of Copenhagen. I dreamed of being a famous actor or a singer on a grand stage. I tried my best, but it was very hard. It turned out that my biggest talent wasn't singing or acting, but something I had loved all along: telling stories.

So, I started to write down all the wonderful ideas swirling in my mind. Have you ever heard of a mermaid who wanted to walk on land? That was my story, 'The Little Mermaid.' Or what about a little duckling who everyone thought was ugly, but grew up to be a beautiful swan? I wrote that one too. I also wrote about a princess who could feel a tiny pea through a huge pile of mattresses. I wrote hundreds of fairy tales for children just like you.

I grew to be an old man and passed away on August 4th, 1875, but my stories never did. They flew all over the world, and they are still shared at bedtime and in cozy chairs today. I am so happy that my daydreams and magical tales can still make you smile and dream, too. My greatest adventure was sharing my imagination with you.