Tom Thumb by L. Leslie Brook (1905)
Tom Thumb is a classic children's story about a tiny boy who is born to a poor couple. Despite his small size, Tom is a brave and resourceful boy who embarks on a series of adventures. He meets a variety of characters, including a giant, a fairy, and a wicked witch. Along the way, Tom uses his wit and courage to outsmart his adversaries and save the day. In the end, Tom's bravery and cleverness are rewarded with a happy ending.
By L. Leslie Brook · First published 1905 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 1,326 words
First lines
Long ago, in the merry days of good King Arthur, there lived a ploughman and his wife. They were very poor, but would have been contented and happy if only they could have had a little child. One day, having heard of the great fame of the magician Merlin, who was living at the Court of King Arthur, the wife persuaded her husband to go and tell him of their trouble. Having arrived at the Court, the man besought Merlin with tears in his eyes to give them a child, saying that they would be quite content even though it should be no bigger than his thumb. Merlin determined to grant the request, and what was the countryman's astonishment to find when he reached home that his wife had a son, who, wonderful to relate, was no bigger than his father's thumb!
What this Textopian page supports
Tom Thumb is listed on Textopian as a short story by L. Leslie Brook, dated 1905 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. Leslie Brook
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 1,326 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tom Thumb by L. Leslie Brook
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Tom Thumb?
- How does this short story by L. Leslie Brook fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- New History Of The Life And Adventures Of Tom Thumb by Sidney Babcock
- An Entertaining History Of Tom Thumb by Unknown
- Aladdin And The Wonderful Lamp by Walter Crane
- Princess Belle Etoile by Walter Crane
- Grimms Fairy Tales by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The book is based on the classic English fairy tale of Tom Thumb, which follows the adventures of a small boy.
- Children's Literature — The book is written for children and is a retelling of the classic fairy tale.
- Fantasy — The book contains elements of fantasy, such as magical creatures and a fantastical setting.
- Adventure — The book follows Tom Thumb on his adventures as he encounters various obstacles and challenges.
Tags
Children's Picture Books · Fairy tales · arthur · batter · carried · center · child · court · day · days · fairy · fearing