The Emperor’s New Clothes
An empty loom, a grand procession, and a child who speaks plainly
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The Emperor’s New Clothes
An emperor cared so much about fine clothes that he spent his money on a different outfit for every hour. He liked people to admire him.
One day, two dishonest men arrived in his city and claimed to be wonderful weavers. Weavers make cloth on a frame called a loom.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
The men claimed their cloth was invisible to foolish people and to anyone unfit for their job. They promised magnificent colours and patterns.
The emperor paid them to begin, hoping the clothes would help him judge the people who worked for him. He thought clever people would see the cloth.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
The swindlers pretended to weave at two empty wooden frames, called looms, while hiding the silk and gold thread they requested in their bags. Not a single thread crossed either frame.
The emperor sent his trusted old adviser, the minister, to see how the cloth was coming along. The minister was an experienced official.
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Explore this illustrated story at four reading levels. Each level follows the same essential events.
Collection: Fairy tales
Retelling: Denmark · Hans Christian Andersen
For parents: After Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes in Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales (1913). Preserves both deceivers, two inspecting officials, the empty looms, false dressing, child’s discovery and procession continuing. Art uses plain underclothes for modesty; there is no real magical suit. No invented apology or punishment is added.
Public-domain source: View the recorded source edition