Parent Guide > The Princess and the Pea

by Hans Christian Andersen 1835

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "The Princess and the Pea" by Hans Christian Andersen.

In the popular fairytale "The Princess and the Pea," a royal family uses an odd test to determine if a young woman who claims to be a princess really is one.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Gender Roles and Identity as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How do we define the roles of men and women?" and "What makes you who you are?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this folktale at home:
    • What was "The Princess and the Pea" about?
    • What did you learn about Gender Roles?
    • What did you learn about Identity?
  • Watch Fairytale – The Princess and the Pea at home with your child.