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The Swineherd

From Andersen's Fairy Tales, by H. C. Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was a Danish storyteller whose fairy tales are beloved around the world. This story was first published in the mid-nineteenth century. It reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The tale teaches that true worth is not in what glitters, and that rejecting honest gifts out of pride can lead to bitter regret. Andersen's genius was in giving children stories that were funny, surprising and morally serious all at once—this one delivers a sting at the end that a young reader will remember.

Band
Yellow · Emerging readersTypical starting range: ages 6–8
Length
medium · about 593 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures
Source
Andersen's Fairy Tales, H. C. Andersen
First published
see the About page in the reader
Regions
Canada · United States

Included formats

  • · Web reader and PDF
  • · EPUB for e-readers
  • · Home-print sheet
  • · Folded booklet
  • · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
  • · Worksheet
  • · Quick Check (8 questions) with answer key
  • · Read-aloud script
  • · Colouring page
  • · Teacher’s Edition (members)

Lesson at a glance

Reading
about 10 minutes at this band
Pause questions
2
Words to Know
6
Quick Check
8 questions, with the answer key
Let’s Talk
3 questions for afterwards
Worksheet
questions, an activity and a drawing prompt

About 35 minutes with one story, all of it.

Readers are engineered from the original public-domain text with AI under HummingRead’s published canon and Content Philosophy, checked by automated audit and sampled by a person. Pictures are made with AI to HummingRead’s brief for each story. How a reader is made.

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The same story

The Swineherd at other bands

Green band

The Swineherd

H. C. Andersen

medium · 788 words · also in Yellow, Blue

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Blue band

The Swineherd

H. C. Andersen

long · 1074 words · also in Yellow, Green

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