Growing up a poor, illiterate Danish boy, a remarkable destiny seemed unlikely for Hans Christian Andersen. Today known worldwide as the Father of the Modern Fairy Tale, the creator of 156 fairy stories (only 12 based on actual folktales), Andersen’s life experiences echoed the trials and tribulations of the animals and princesses searching for love and meaning in his stories. The entire text of this efficient and admiring biography is a single sentence, complemented by warm watercolor illustrations that animate Andersen’s life and such memorable characters as the Ugly Duckling and the Snow Queen.