The Nightingale (Pinkney book) facts for kids
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| Author | Hans Christian Andersen |
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| Illustrator | Jerry Pinkney |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature, fairy tale, picture book |
| Published | 2002 (Phyllis Fogelman Books) |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 32 (unpaginated) |
| ISBN | 9780803724648 |
| OCLC | 47930623 |
The Nightingale is a beautiful picture book from 2002. It was created by the famous illustrator Jerry Pinkney. This book retells a classic fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1843. The story is about a powerful emperor who learns a valuable lesson about true beauty and happiness. He discovers this lesson through a tiny, plain-looking bird with an amazing voice.
Contents
Understanding the Story: The Emperor and the Nightingale
The story begins in a grand and magnificent country far away. The emperor of this land lives in a splendid palace. His palace is made of fine porcelain and is surrounded by a beautiful garden. Travelers from all over the world come to admire its wonders.
Discovering the Real Nightingale
One day, the emperor reads about his own palace in a book. He is surprised to find that the book mentions something he didn't know about. It talks about the most wonderful thing in his empire: a nightingale. This small, brown bird lives in the forest near his palace. It sings the most enchanting songs.
The emperor had never heard of this bird before. He immediately orders his servants to find the nightingale. They search and search until a young kitchen maid guides them. She knows where the nightingale lives and how beautiful its song is.
The Mechanical Bird Arrives
The nightingale is brought to the palace. Its song is so lovely that it brings tears to the emperor's eyes. He loves the bird's music and keeps it close to him. However, one day, a special gift arrives from another emperor. It is a mechanical bird, covered in jewels and gold. This artificial bird can also sing, and it looks much more impressive than the real nightingale.
The emperor and his court are fascinated by the mechanical bird. They are amazed by its shiny appearance and its ability to sing the same tune over and over. They soon forget about the real nightingale. The real bird, feeling forgotten, quietly flies back to its home in the forest.
The Emperor's Illness and the Nightingale's Return
Time passes, and the emperor becomes very ill. He is so sick that everyone believes he will die. Death itself seems to sit on his chest. The mechanical bird cannot help him now. It is broken and silent. The emperor is alone and afraid.
Suddenly, a sweet song fills the room. It is the real nightingale! The bird has returned to comfort the dying emperor. Its beautiful song chases away the feeling of death. The emperor slowly begins to recover. He realizes that the simple, natural beauty of the nightingale's song is far more precious than any glittering toy.
A Lesson Learned
The nightingale promises to visit the emperor every night. It will sing for him and tell him about the world outside the palace. The emperor learns a valuable lesson about appreciating true, natural beauty over artificial things. He also learns about kindness and humility. This story teaches us that what truly matters often comes in simple forms.
Awards and Recognition
Jerry Pinkney's adaptation of The Nightingale received several awards. These awards recognized its artistic quality and its value for young readers.
- 2002 Parents' Choice Award Story Books - Silver Award (honor)
- 2003 Notable Social Studies Trade Books For Young People - Folktales
