BEIJING, Nov. 7 -- Joining the worldwide celebration of the 200th birthday of Hans Christian Anderson, hundreds of students of a Nanshan school were transformed into little mermaids, ugly ducklings and other fairytale characters in honor of the famous Danish writer and his immortal stories.

    The students and teachers of the Nanshan School Affiliated with China National Institute for Education Research also attended seminars Friday addressed by well-known fairytale writers Zhang Jiayi and Tang Sulan to mark the school fairytale festival.

    The festival was also part of the forum on activity classes under the district curriculum reform.

    ¡°Fairy tales play an important role in a child¡¯s life. Anderson was an extraordinary figure whose ideas spread to every corner of the world. Anderson¡¯s works provide positive philosophies and I believe our children can benefit much more by reading his fairy tales, compared to watching TV or browsing online,¡± said Li Qingming, principal of the school.

    ¡°I think this is a positive and meaningful event to show children¡¯s creativity and encourage their interest in reading,¡± said a mother, who wished not to be named.

    Six-year-old Xiao Fangru, who dressed up as Thumbelina, also enjoys reading storybooks every day. Her favorite character, she said, was Thumbelina.

    ¡°In addition to reading storybooks, my daughter is also encouraged to draw the stories they¡¯ve read or listened, which is a wonderful way to cultivate children¡¯s reading ability and creativity,¡± said Xiao¡¯s mother.

    Hans Christian Anderson was born April 2, 1805 in Copenhagen. Many of his fairy tales depict characters who gain happiness in life after suffering and conflicts.

    Among his most well-known tales are The Little Mermaid, The Emperor¡¯s New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, The Nightingale and The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

    
(Source: Shenzhen Daily)