"thumbelina" is completely andersen's invention. he did however know tales about tiny people such as "tom thumb" and the six-inch tall lilliputians in "gulliver's travels". he may have taken some inspiration from these tales. andersen's tales were not liked by the danish critics. they did not like their casual style and their lack of morals. one critic liked "thumbelina". he called it "delightful". the tale has been adapted to an animated movie and a live-action television programme.