The protagonists of fairy tales often meet with misfortune, sometimes deserved, sometimes undeserved. But fairy tales are also about happiness, and about happiness in unhappy circumstances. The happiness of a child who is mocked but eventually triumphs. The happiness of being small and clever. The happiness of siblings sticking together. Happiness of not always thinking of your own interests. The happiness of finding finally where you belong to after having been an outcast. The happiness of overcoming insults. And last but not least, the happiness of going your own way.

• With illustrations by Rotraut Susanne Berner

• A book for reading aloud, which opens up the world of fairy tales to children and adults alike

• Familiar and unfamiliar stories brought together in one beautifully illustrated volume

• A wonderful guide through the world of fairy tales, backed up by insights from developmental psychology