Skip to content
Menu
Illustration for Thumbelina

English · Intermediate

Thumbelina

By Hans Christian Andersen

A tiny girl is carried far from home and meets creatures who want to decide her future.

Read and listen in English.

Try the Intermediate sample Read this edition

Sample free · Full edition included in a 3-day trial or membership. No card required for the trial.

Intermediate sample in English

Scene 1

Try the first scene with audio. No account needed.

Illustration for the scene “A wish for a child”

Scene 1 · Intermediate

A wish for a child

English

There was once a woman who longed to have a little child, but she could not make her wish come true. At last she went to a fairy for help.

English

“I would love to have a little child,” she said. “Can you tell me where to find one?”

English

“That can easily be arranged,” replied the fairy. “Here is a grain of barley. It is different from the barley that grows in farmers' fields and feeds the chickens. Plant it in a flowerpot and see what happens.”

English

The woman thanked her and paid twelve shillings for the grain.

Continue with Thumbelina

A 3-day trial or membership unlocks the full story and its available reading levels. No card required for the trial.

Continue reading

Create an account · Log in

Other editions in English

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a level for this story?

Open the reader, then choose a level in Reading options. Find a version you can follow comfortably, and return to the same story at a higher level when you are ready.

Can I hide the English translation?

Yes. In Reading options, you can show the English translation beside or below the story, or hide it.

Will it remember where I stopped?

Your account saves your reading and audio position. You need to be signed in with a working connection to save your progress.

Is this story free?

Read this story during your three-day full library trial or with membership. No card is required to start the trial, and there are no automatic charges.