Independent Reading Level: K-1
Awards: One of the year’s 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books by the New York Times in 2008, a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators Original Art 2008, Best Books of the Year, Children’s Picture Books by Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal Best books of 2008, and Scripps Howard News Service Favorite Children’s Books of 2008.

Independent Reading Level: Grade 3
Awards: The 2000 Prometheus Hall of Fame winner for Best Classic Fiction:

I liked this because it is a very different story. It is different because it is comical but it has a great big message. I like the illustrations throughout the book because it adds to the story. The pictures make it almost more comical. For example, the facial expressions on each the characters’ faces, such as the minister or the officer, show such surprise and a loss speech and they proceed to look closer still being very confused. The illustrations helped me see how confused they were but it also allowed me to see how excited the king was although he did not know what was happening. Overall I liked the story because it was comical but I really liked the big message. The big message of the story is do not let your pride get in the way. In the story all of the royalty and people in office were too afraid to the truth before their pride and this lead to the emperor walking with clothes in front of the town. It is better to swallow your pride because sometimes when you don’t you will end up embarrassed. ( )

Classic story of the vain Emperor and the innocent child. ( )

I've been revisiting Hans Christian Andersen - what a wonderfully insightful author. ( )