"thumbelina" was one of nine fairy tales andersen printed between 1835 and 1837 in a series of three booklets. these booklets were called "fairy tales told for children". "thumbelina" appeared in the second booklet with "the naughty boy" and "the traveling companion". the first booklet included "the tinderbox", "great claus and little claus", "the princess and the pea", and "little ida's flowers". the third booklet was printed in 1837. only two tales, "the little mermaid" and "the emperor's new clothes", appeared in the third and final booklet.