I've waited too long after reading this one to remember many specifics, so my rating and my review have more to do with an overall impression. I really enjoyed parts of this collection as well as valued the stories for their literary heritage. However, as I was reading this to my boys to put them to sleep at night, I began having a very hard time with the several stories Andersen wrote in which children died cruelly, either to teach them a lesson or because it was, simply, the way of things. It's not exactly Grimm's, but it is off-putting, especially for me, a father who is trying to teach my sons of their worth and potential. I'm also trying to build their trust both in God and me not to let bad things happen to them, nor do I want them to believe they could ever commit an offense so bad that it earns them the worst possible consequence of karma and fate. I'm not sure why storytellers used to write this way, but I can only assume it's because people once had a very fatalistic view of life. The fact that we are sometimes still attracted to this kind of storytelling and even celebrate it means we still have much growing to do. I prefer gentler children's stories, especially when I'm reading them to sleep. I prefer good things to happen to children in stories. Otherwise, I feel like I'm giving them a bad model. Children need to feel safe and secure. There is PLENTY of time to learn about the darkness in the world when they get older. Those looking for an alternative, a story with many happy returns, might I suggest my own "A Night with St. Nick