The story of Thumbelina and its themes have appeared in literature and other forms of art. This page provides a small discussion of some of the better known treatments by authors and other artists.
Charles, Veronika Martenova. It's Not about the Tiny Girl!New York: Tundra Books, 2013.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in ebook or paperback.
NOVEL: More first books for fledgling readers that offer the enjoyment of a good story with the thrill of accomplishment that comes from independent reading. Written in short, easy phrases with carefully selected vocabulary and plentiful illustrations, each book helps youngsters achieve success as they have fun.
The series follows three friends who love to share stories. In each book, one is reminded of a well-known story. As one friend starts his story, the others are reminded of versions they know so each volume has three stories within one framework. The stories come from around the world, and Veronika Martenova Charles provides a note at the end of each book to describe the origins.
Ensor, Barbara. Thumbelina: Tiny Runaway Bride. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2008.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in hardcover.
NOVEL: From the publisher:
Block, Francesca Lia. "Tiny." The Rose and the Beast. New York: Harper Collins, 2000.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in hardback or paperback.
SHORT STORY
Friesner, Esther M. "No Bigger Than My Thumb."Black Swan, White Raven . Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, eds. New York: Avon, 1997.
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SHORT STORY
Jacobs, Harvey. "Persimmon (After Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen)." Snow White, Blood Red. Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, eds. New York: Avon, 1995.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in hardcover or paperback.
SHORT STORY
Wade, Susan. "Ivory Bones." Silver Birch, Blood Moon. Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, eds. New York: Avon, 1999.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in paperback.
SHORT STORY
I have listed primarily classical compositions of music using the themes of this fairy tale in either ballet, opera or some other musical style. I have also provided links to popular recordings of the music when available at Amazon.com. The advantage to these links is that you can listen to samples of the music at no charge.
"Thumbelina" by Danny Kaye from the album More Vintage Children's Favourites (2007) originally from the film, Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
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"Thumbelina" by Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus & Larry Groce from the album Children's Favorite Songs, Vol. 2(1979)
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"Thumbelina" by Raffi from the album Rise and Shine (1981)
Amazon.com: Buy the CD or Download the song.
Download the song.
"Thumbelina" by The Pretenders from the album Learning to Crawl (1983)
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"Thumbelina" by Mark Isham from the album Pure Mark Isham (1985)
Amazon.com: Buy the CD.
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"Hans Christian Andersen: The Ugly Duckling / Thumbelina / Wonderful Copenhagen" The Box & Banjo Band from the album At the Movies (1986)
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"Chest of Fairytales, Op. 20: Thumbelina (Courante) (Tarakanov)" by Alexander Bonduriansky, Vlamir Ivanov & Mikhail Utkin from the album Chamber Music (1993) classical
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Download the song.
"Me and Thumbelina" by Fugazi from the album Instrument(1999)
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"Thumbelina" by Yellow Notes from the album Yellow Note Vs. the Daleks (1999)
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"Thumbelina" by Tracy Bonham from the album Down Here(2000)
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"Thumbelina" by Peter Pan Kids from the album Storytime Classics Sing-Along (2000)
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"Thumbelina Farewell" by Ron Sexsmith from the album Blue Boy (2001)
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"Thumbelina" by Twink from the album Twink (2002)
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"Thumbelina" by Epigene from the album Popular Dissent(2004)
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"Thumbelina" by George Winston from the album Montana - A Love Story (2004)
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"Thumbelina" by Rita Mizrahi Shamie from the album Grandma Rita's Songbook One (2004)
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"Thumbelina" by Nightmare of You from the album Nightmare of You (2005)
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"Thumbelina" by Mary Kaye from the album Mouse Jamboree (2005)
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"Thumbelina" by Presnyakov V.P. from the album Relax - 4 (For Lovers) (2006)
Amazon.com: Download the song.
Download the song.
"Thumbelina" by Kevin Danzig from the album Welcome Home/"Live"at the Kerrville Folk Festival (2006)
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"Thumbelina" by The Raisin Pickers from the album Michigan Wind (2006)
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"Sunset (The Death of Thumbelina)" by Current 93 from the album Black Ships Ate the Sky (2006)
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Thumbelina (1954). Lotte Reiniger, director. UK.
SILHOUETTE ANIMATION SHORT: Lotte Reiniger is historically important as an early animator, specializing in shadow puppet animation, also known as silhouette animation. She was arguably the best talent in this particular craft. She started in silent films while living in Germany and continued producing shorts for over 40 years, primarily in the UK. For more information, read this article by William Moritz published by Animation World Magazine:
http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.3/articles/moritz1.3.html
Thumbelina (1970). Barry Mahon, director.
Cast:
Shay Garner .... Thumbelina
Pat Morell .... Mrs. Mole
Bob O'Connell .... Mr. Digger
Ruth McMahon .... Mother
Heather Grinter .... Witch
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre: Thumbelina (1984) (TV). Gilbert Cates, director.
Amazon.com: Buy the series on DVD.
Cast:
Burgess Meredith ... Mole
William Katt ... Flower Prince
Carrie Fisher ... Thumbelina
John Pielmeier ... Field Mouse
Marydith Burrell ... Beggar Woman
Conchata Ferrell ... Mother
Lu Leonard ... Mrs. Frog
Donovan Scott ... Herman Frog
This television series originally aired on Showtime for six seasons and a total of 27 episodes. To see a full episode list, go to Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre.
Thumbelina (1994). Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, director.
Buy the movie on VHS. or Buy the movie on DVD.
Cast:
Jodi Benson .... Thumbelina (voice)
Gino Conforti .... Jacquimo (voice)
Barbara Cook .... Mother (voice)
Will Ryan .... Hero (voice)
ANIMATION: From Amazon.com: "Ranking just behind the best of animator Don Bluth's films (Anastasia and The Secret of NIMH), Thumbelina is a bubble-light version of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. The finger-sized heroine goes about the old-fashioned trials of trying to find a good man, but the film is clever enough to make it endearing for the 3-6 set and more than passable for adult viewers. Barry Manilow provides much of the song score, which helps immensely. The ballad "Let Me Be Your Wings" is as good as Disney's best. Carol Channing and Charo have a good ol' time with their songs too. The voice of Thumbelina is none other than Jodi Benson, who gave voice to Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid."
Thumbelina (2002). Glenn Chaika, director.
Buy the movie on VHS. or Buy the movie on DVD.
Cast:
Jennifer Love Hewitt .... Thumbelina (voice)
Elijah Wood .... Tom Thumb (voice)
Peter Gallagher .... The Mole King (voice)
Alexandra Boyd .... Bertha Beetle (voice)
Michael Chiklis .... Roman/King Webster (voice)
ANIMATION: From Amazon.com: "Enter the magical world of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina, together for the first time ever, in the all-new animated movie "The Adventures Of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina." A new take on the classic characters of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, this charming film features Elijah Wood and Jennifer Love Hewitt in the title roles. Bursting with delightful songs and humor, this heartwarming story of courage and friendship is perfect entertainment for the whole family."
None so far!
