The Steadfast Tin Soldier - Softcover

Hans Christian Andersen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0751370274 ISBN 13: 9780751370270

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1996

Synopsis

A retelling of Hans Andersen's classic story of the one-legged tin soldier who falls in love with a paper-doll ballerina. Although they are separated and the soldier suffers many trials and hardships, their love triumphs at last.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Andersen's poignant story of unrequited love has been retold here for dramatic reading by Mitchell, a storyteller and performing poet. Therefore, the text is faithful to the original plot but not to its prose, a fact that may be disturbing to purists who value Andersen's literary language as well as his themes. Children who have not heard such dramatic readings may find the phrasing and line arrangement awkward. However, because the printed text is arranged as poetry, it provides a pleasing visual complement to Heale's woodcuts. The artist has maintained a heavy black line and uses bold black borders to frame each single-page illustration. The prints are hand colored in muted watercolors with shades of blue and brown predominating. The exception to this color scheme is the tin soldier. Although his size in each picture is small, in keeping with his powerlessness, he is made central to each page by his red coat, a red first introduced on the endpapers. His image thus seems to stand out as brightly as his steadfast heart. The illustrations, on ecru paper, have a lovely antique look that captures the timelessness of the tale. While the book may be more faithful to Andersen's spirit than to this words, it makes a nice addition to other illustrated retellings of the story.?Barbara Kiefer, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Ages 4^-8. Mitchell retells Andersen's classic story, sticking close to the familiar version in essentials yet differing in some details. Laid out on the page in phrases, the text looks like free verse and has ans almost staccato effect when read aloud. The result is quite readable, if not quite Andersen. Heale's woodcut illustrations feature strong black lines and subtle watercolor washes. A plain black border frames each page of text and/or art. Libraries may have the excellent Rachel Isadora, Tor Seidler/Fred Marcellino, and Naomi Lewis/P. J. Lynch picture-book versions of The Steadfast Tin Soldier already. Buy this edition for an alternative vision of the tale. Carolyn Phelan

About this edition

• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Limited
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0751370274
• ISBN 13: 9780751370270
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Editor: Mitchell Adrian
• Illustrator: Jonathan Heale