The Nightingale

Author: Hans Christian Anderson

Illustrated by Demi

Publishing information: (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, October 1988, Ages 4-8)

Number of Pages: 30

Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary of Plot:

An Emperor of China overhears news about a nightingale within his kingdom that has a beautiful voice. He wishes to hear it sing for his kingdom. On of his workers finds the bird. It agrees to sing for the emperor. As a gift the emperor receives a artificial nightingale. The attention gets turned on it instead of the real one. The emperor later banishes the real nightingale to the forest. A year later, on his deathbed, the artificial bird has broken. the emperor want the real nightingale now, and is sorry for neglecting it. The nightingale is forgiving to him and returns. Its singing heals the emperor. The book ended with a very grateful emperor acknowledging what blessings he has.

My Reaction to the book:

I liked the morals of this story. Its morals include forgiveness, humility, and individual worth. I like how it talks about the joys of having music, and how music can benefit people. I like the way it ends. I think it contains a valuable lesson of being grateful for what you have, and not being greedy. Gratitude is an important issue that should be discussed, especially in the critical period of childhood.

Potential Problems: 

Ungratefulness is what leads to the emperor's predicament. 

Recommendations:

I liked this book pretty well. This book is good for those that like hearing about fairy tales, birds, and other cultures. For some this book may be strange, because of the culture difference. This book had characteristics of a parable. It had a story, but it also had a prominent moral message.