Hans Christian Andersen will be celebrated worldwide, in 2005. Children, parents and teachers will have the opportunity to talk more about his tales. Christian Duckworth, the British member of the Advisory Board, launches “The Hans Christian Andersen Project”. In this article Christian motivates her choice and tells you how you could contribute. Some related on-line resources are provided.
Many children have read and enjoyed the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, have laughed and cried along with the little characters such as the Emperor who had no clothes, the poor little Match Girl, the Princess and the Pea or Thumbelina.
But did you ever wonder what happened next? Did the Emperor ever live down his shame, did the Princess and her Prince live happily ever after, was the little Match Girl reunited with her Grandmother in Heaven?
Participating schools will be sent a bag containing a character from one of the stories, a copy of the original story written in English and a blank notebook to write their own stories into. Photographs and information about the children's activities with the characters would also be very welcome…did your class make clothes for the Emperor, or take the little Match Girl out for a treat? All stories and illustrations will be added to our school Website ready for the HCA 2005 celebrations in April 2005.
HCA2005 A special Web site dedicated to the event as such, available mainly in English and Danish. Several other languages are provided. The Web site is supported by The Kingdom of Denmark and Bikuben Foundation.
Read Andersen on-line Fairy Tales and Stories, English Translation: H. P. Paull (1872)
Hans Christian Andersen Awards Every other year IBBY presents the Hans Christian Andersen Awards to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.
