Andersen's Fairy Tales

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales have lasted nearly two centuries because they carry real moral weight without pretending the world is simple. This 2015 Minedition illustrated collection pairs a selection of his best-known stories with Lisbeth Zwerger's watercolors — and Zwerger's art alone makes the edition worth owning. Her work is widely regarded as among the finest in children's book illustration. The honest caveat is that Andersen's originals include some genuinely melancholy endings — 'The Little Mermaid,' for instance, ends in death and sacrifice, not romance. Younger children may need a parent alongside to process those moments. The specific stories included vary by edition, so check the table of contents before buying for a particular child. As a family read-aloud, though, this is a genuine literary heirloom.