ACHUKA Book of the Day 19 May 2026
Publisher: Levine Querido
ISBN: 9781646145768
See also by Sandra Nickel:
Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon [ACHUKA Book of the Day 30 Jun 2025]
Breaking Through The Clouds [ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 Mar 2022]
The Stuff Between The Stars [ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 mar 2021]
“Paper sculptor Nicholls is as adept at evoking the blurry reflections of buildings in the water as he is shadowed faces murmuring, and all out of multicolored pulp. This style brings to mind the best work of such artists as David Wisniewski. For most of the narrative, Andersen’s face is masked, shadowed, and hidden, his yellow scarf far more prominent, up until the ultimate moment of success. This rags-to-riches tale brings the emotional heart of Andersen’s own story to glorious, wonderful life. A resplendently told account of an underdog who triumphs.” KIRKUS
“The unique art is truly stunning in both craft and visual appeal: by photographing embossed low-relief sculptures, created using colored papers of varying thickness, Nicholls create a layered, 3-D effect that echoes the paper-cutting forms Anderson often made himself, linking a modern style to an age-old tradition.” MUSE
Despite the unwelcome “A story of neurodivergence” tagline, this is a remarkable picture book biography. Nickel structures Anderesen’s life like a fairytale. The illustrations are by papercut artist Calvin Nicholls.
Andersen brought to life stories and characters that millions have loved. A one-legged tin soldier who yearned for love. A poor little match girl. A mermaid who gave up her voice for a prince. But who was Hans Christian Andersen?
He was a “strange child.” An ugly duckling. Even his mother said so. He didn’t seem to think like, or look like, anyone around him. But while his heart was bruised by ridicule, it responded by driving an unstoppable urge to create, to entertain. If he couldn’t act he would dance, if he couldn’t dance he would sing, and if he couldn’t sing … well, maybe he had stories to tell. With each rejection and defeat, Hans would soothe himself by making art with scissors and whatever was handy. A bit of cloth, a piece of paper. Until one day…
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"A resplendently told account of an underdog who triumphs."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ✪: by Sandra Nickel; illustrated by Calvin Nicholls… pic.twitter.com/74VRySmfVZ
— Kirkus Reviews (@KirkusReviews) March 23, 2026
I stopped by the blog of my good friend L.Marie today. We talked about Hans Christian Andersen & how he inspired my upcoming book The True Ugly Duckling. Join the conversation at the following link–and win a free copy of the book! https://t.co/j7Nzxsw0gt @AuthorLinda2
— Sandra Nickel (@senickel) February 18, 2026
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