The Swineherd

A fairy tale retold from Hans Christian Andersen

The Swineherd is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1841. Andersen was a Danish writer whose stories are known around the world. This tale asks what matters more: real beauty and honesty, or clever toys and games. The prince learns whether the princess values true gifts or only things that entertain her. It is a story about pride, disguise, and learning hard lessons.

Band

Yellow · Emerging readers, about 6 to 8

Length

medium · about 556 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, 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.