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 readers, about 6 to 8

Length

medium · about 596 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Andersen's Fairy Tales, H. C. Andersen · Project Gutenberg

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

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.