The Woman who Lived in a Shoe by L. Frank Baum
This story revolves around a woman with many children, who lives in a shoe. The narrative explores the challenges she faces due to her large family and the difficulties of managing them within their cramped living space.
By L. Frank Baum · First published 1903 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fable · 2,302 words
First lines
There was an old woman / Who lived in a shoe, / She had so many children / She didn't know what to do; / She gave them some broth / Without any bread, / And whipped them all soundly / And sent them to bed.
A LONG time ago there lived a woman who had four daughters, and these in time grew up and married and went to live in different parts of the country. And the woman, after that, lived all alone, and said to herself, "I have done my duty to the world, and now shall rest quietly for the balance of my life. When one has raised a family of four children and has married them all happily, she is surely entitled to pass her remaining days in peace and comfort."
What this Textopian page supports
The Woman who Lived in a Shoe is listed on Textopian as a short story by L. Frank Baum, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: L. Frank Baum
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fable, Humor, Family Saga
- Length: 2,302 words
- Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Woman who Lived in a Shoe by L. Frank Baum
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- The Jolly Miller by L. Frank Baum
- The Runaway Perambulator by J. M. Barrie
- Old King Cole by L. Frank Baum
- Mr And Mrs Spikky Sparrow by Edward Lear
- Mr H M Woggle Bug T E by L. Frank Baum
- The History Of The Seven Families Of The Lake Pipple Popple by Edward Lear
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is aimed at a young audience, featuring whimsical elements and moral lessons suitable for children.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements, such as a house shaped like a shoe and exaggerated family dynamics.
- Fable — The tale imparts moral lessons about family, responsibility, and behavior, characteristic of fables.
- Humor — The absurdity of the situation and the antics of the children provide comedic elements throughout the story.
Tags
Children's Literature · Fairy Tale · Rhyming Verse · Satire · Social Commentary · Poverty · Overcrowding · Family Dynamics · Motherhood · Responsibility · Humor · Whimsy
More by L. Frank Baum
- The Enchanted Buffalo (1919)
- The Tigers Eye: A Jungle Fairy Tale (1902)
- A Kidnapped Santa Claus (1902)
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
- Tip Manufactures a Pumpkinhead (1906)
- The Marvelous Powder of Life (1905)
- The Flight of the Fugitives (1907)
- Tip Makes an Experiment in Magic (1903)
- All works by L. Frank Baum