The Princess and the Pea

Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75) was born in Odense, Denmark. The son of a poor shoemaker, who nonetheless was a great reader, made a toy theater for his son and taught him to notice every natural wonder as they walked in the woods together on Sundays. His father died when he was 11, and it wasn’t until six years later that, with the help of a patron, he finally went to a state secondary school attended by much younger children. There he suffered at the hands of a cruel headmaster, but he acquired an education and was determined to be a writer. He published his first novel and his first fairy tales in 1835; thereafter he wrote over 150 more of these stories which have become classics in many languages. Although he originally addressed his fairy tales to children (and some would maintain he had a streak of childhood in his nature) he insisted they were “for all ages,” and the gentleness and humor that are their characteristics are recognized by everyone.

Carly Gledhill is a children’s book illustrator/author living and working in Stockport, U.K. She has worked as a print designer for studios and retailers and completed an MA in children’s book illustration. She got her first book deal with Orchard Books, writing and Illustrating Monty and Sylvester: A Tale of Everyday Superheroes (2018). Since then she has worked on her second title for Orchard and illustrated for publishers and clients including Little Tiger Press, Quarto, and Redbird Publishing.Clients: Orchard Books / Little Tiger Press / Quarto / Mamas & Papas / Hallmark Cards / Paperchase / Usbourne Books / Penguin Random House / Elephant and Bird books / H&M / Paper and Cloth Design Studio.carlygledhill.com@carlygledhillCarly Gledhill is a children’s book illustrator/author living and working in Stockport, U.K. She has worked as a print designer for studios and retailers and completed an MA in children’s book illustration. She got her first book deal with Orchard Books, writing and Illustrating Monty and Sylvester: A Tale of Everyday Superheroes (2018). Since then she has worked on her second title for Orchard and illustrated for publishers and clients including Little Tiger Press, Quarto, and Redbird Publishing.Clients: Orchard Books / Little Tiger Press / Quarto / Mamas & Papas / Hallmark Cards / Paperchase / Usbourne Books / Penguin Random House / Elephant and Bird books / H&M / Paper and Cloth Design Studio.carlygledhill.com@carlygledhill