The Princess and the Pea

A beloved version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale with soft, traditional illustrations by Maja Dusíková

Once upon a time a prince was looking for a princess to marry, but she would have to be a real princess. One stormy night a young woman knocks on the palace door claiming to be a princess. Putting her to the test, the queen places a single pea underneath a huge pile of mattresses. Is the young woman a real princess after all?

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author of children’s fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina and The Ugly Duckling, which have become much-loved classics around the world.

Maja Dusíková was born in Slovakia in 1946. She has illustrated over forty books for children, including Santa Claus and the Christmas Surprise and The Princess and the Pea (both Floris Books). She lives with her family in Florence, Italy.