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Tom Thumb: The Story by the Brothers Grimm
Detailed drawings and narration illustrate the antics of a tiny boy who persuades his poverty-stricken father to sell him for gold
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1812
About the author
Jacob Grimm
6,049 books2,348 followersGerman philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as
Grimm's Fairy Tales
(1812-1815).
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 4, 2017
Really loved the Tom. He is soo brave for his size. He is just as long as the thumb.
This fact reminds me of Thumbelina. Both tales seem to have common facts except for the ending. I would say I liked the ending of this tale more.
This tale tells us that everyone is capable of doing anything. We just need to have a strong will. If your will is strong then no matter how hard the task is, you will be able to do it.
I, myself, sometimes lose hope. I think that I might not be able to do it. But after reading this tale, I am feeling little inspired.
Highly recommend this to children.
March 4, 2017
This fact reminds me of Thumbelina. Both tales seem to have common facts except for the ending. I would say I liked the ending of this tale more.
This tale tells us that everyone is capable of doing anything. We just need to have a strong will. If your will is strong then no matter how hard the task is, you will be able to do it.
I, myself, sometimes lose hope. I think that I might not be able to do it. But after reading this tale, I am feeling little inspired.
Highly recommend this to children.
March 4, 2017
September 17, 2020
I have the complete set of the Grimm Fairy-Tales, and there are so many that I haven’t read! They are very short, as one would know, so I have decided to read each one and give them a review. Some are very vulgar, some are very cute and some don’t even make sense. Some of them are well known fairy-tales and some have never been told. Some are fairy-tales we know but are not the same because they have been downplayed for the children.
This story was super cute.
It’s about a poor family wishing for a child, even if he is the size of a thumb.
They get their wish!
In order for the family to live handsomely, the little thumb boy (Thumbling) sells himself and tells his father he will be back.
He travels the world and does some interesting things!
But will he return home, or find something else that makes him happy?
This story was super cute.
It’s about a poor family wishing for a child, even if he is the size of a thumb.
They get their wish!
In order for the family to live handsomely, the little thumb boy (Thumbling) sells himself and tells his father he will be back.
He travels the world and does some interesting things!
But will he return home, or find something else that makes him happy?
May 12, 2017
Somehow, I've never come across the character of Tom Thumb before. I've heard of him, and I did all of the nursery rhymes, but I never came across the story.
Reading it now, I'm amazed. Tom is a really clever character who I really enjoyed reading about. He was incredibly clever, and I loved it a lot. It's hard to find characters like Tom Thumb in fiction now a days.
Surprisingly, this one wasn't quite dark; not in the case of the Brothers Grimm. I wasn't left wondering what I had just read, but I still enjoyed it none the less!
Reading it now, I'm amazed. Tom is a really clever character who I really enjoyed reading about. He was incredibly clever, and I loved it a lot. It's hard to find characters like Tom Thumb in fiction now a days.
Surprisingly, this one wasn't quite dark; not in the case of the Brothers Grimm. I wasn't left wondering what I had just read, but I still enjoyed it none the less!
November 21, 2018
Review for "Tom Thumb" by Charles Perrault:
It's one of the well-known fairy tales by French author, Charles Perrault. It's also known in English as "Hop-o'-My-Thumb", "Little Thumbling", "Little Thumb" or "Little Poucet". The story follows a boy small as a thumb's adventures. The readers will learn that it's not the size that counts. It's the person's intelligence that counts, also the size of his or her heart which in Tom Thumb's case is bigger than any others'.
I recommend this fairy tale to readers 6+.
It's one of the well-known fairy tales by French author, Charles Perrault. It's also known in English as "Hop-o'-My-Thumb", "Little Thumbling", "Little Thumb" or "Little Poucet". The story follows a boy small as a thumb's adventures. The readers will learn that it's not the size that counts. It's the person's intelligence that counts, also the size of his or her heart which in Tom Thumb's case is bigger than any others'.
I recommend this fairy tale to readers 6+.
October 3, 2015
We all know the gist of the story, but only after having read the actual tale will you be impressed. Tom is interestingly cunning and resourceful, and makes for a great protagonist. No matter what your size, there is always something ingenious you can do to make the world right and win the day!
February 1, 2017
Reminds me of thumbilina. I loved that movie as a little girl!
January 20, 2018
And we will not sell you again—not for all the riches in the world..............
June 17, 2019
I really enjoy the story of Tom Thumb. It is about a couple who are unable to have a child. A fairy comes to grant them their wish of having a child. The only catch is that their child is only the size of his father's thumb.
Even though Tom is very small he is very adventurous. He ends up getting swallowed by a cow, he finds giants, and he eventually gets knighted by king Arthur and has his very own mouse to ride as a noble stead and has royal clothing makers to make him a pint sized suit.
I think all little children should read this book or have a parent read it to them if too young.
Even though Tom is very small he is very adventurous. He ends up getting swallowed by a cow, he finds giants, and he eventually gets knighted by king Arthur and has his very own mouse to ride as a noble stead and has royal clothing makers to make him a pint sized suit.
I think all little children should read this book or have a parent read it to them if too young.
December 11, 2014
Tom Thumbs journey is by far the oddest as he managaes to survive many things that you wouldn't be able to and there are so many things that would probably not happen that it is difficult to believe that it could ever happen even if I know that it couldn't.
This book was good and I liked the story of Tom Thumb and the crazy adventure that he went on.
This book was good and I liked the story of Tom Thumb and the crazy adventure that he went on.
January 1, 2019
I havd never heard of Thumbling but glad that I have the whole Grimm Fairy Tales collection and came across this piece. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the adventure of Thumbling and his probably more than anything, innocent personality, that he turns out to be quite a clever little character. 5/5 stars.
April 18, 2016
Las aventuras de un chico del tamaño de un meñique, en las cuales matan a una vaca por pensar que estaba poseída y un lobo es desgarrado.
May 27, 2019
TOM THUMB: A couple wish for a child and end up having one as big as their thumb. Their son gets into a lot of trouble, but is very brave and clever. MORAL: You can do anything, no matter how small you are. Be clever. Brains over brawns. [RATING: 5 STARS]
March 7, 2017
The male version of Thumbelina ;)
February 12, 2019
A real joy to read this book, action, adventure and a happy ending. This story is very similar to that of Thumbelina.
March 5, 2019
This was an entertaining and enjoyable short fairy tale.
July 13, 2024
This is the famous story of the young man who is small as a thumb.
May 29, 2021
Don't think I've heard this one before, only Thumbelina. I didn't think it was super interesting, but I guess it could be fun for children.
August 30, 2023
Tom Thumb is a great character to visualize and to read about in his adventures. He's very clever and the love of the family radiates from the page.
The Tom Thumb story is open in a way many fairy tales are not. There's not a clear goal for Tom Thumb until he decides to go back to his parents. He messes with different people in each section of the story. There's not a princess to save, or a task to complete. It's just Tom Thumb as a character. Magical creatures like giants, dwarves, and talking animals can be the main characters in fairy tales, but Tom Thumb is the most unique of all as a boy no bigger than a thumb. He hides in the stomachs of animals and plays tricks.
Sometimes, home is best.
The Tom Thumb story is open in a way many fairy tales are not. There's not a clear goal for Tom Thumb until he decides to go back to his parents. He messes with different people in each section of the story. There's not a princess to save, or a task to complete. It's just Tom Thumb as a character. Magical creatures like giants, dwarves, and talking animals can be the main characters in fairy tales, but Tom Thumb is the most unique of all as a boy no bigger than a thumb. He hides in the stomachs of animals and plays tricks.
Sometimes, home is best.
March 16, 2024
Jacob Grimm, alongside his brother Wilhelm, is renowned for compiling "Grimm's Fairy Tales," a collection of German folktales. This book is a captivating journey into the heart of folklore, presenting a mixture of enchanting and sometimes dark stories that have fascinated readers for generations. Grimm's work is not just a mere collection of tales; it's a profound exploration of the human condition, morals, and the cultural heritage of Germany. The stories range from the well-loved "Cinderella" and "Snow White" to the less known but equally intriguing tales. Each story is a masterpiece of fantasy, imbued with timeless themes and moral lessons, making this book a valuable treasure for both young and adult readers. Jacob Grimm's contribution through this compilation has left an indelible mark on literature and continues to inspire the imagination of readers worldwide.
June 25, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The original tale is much better but also darker then the version kids see.
It is different but not that different from what you might remember from first hearing this tale as a kid.
The plot here are very good but also dark which is the mix which I personally like a lot.
The writing style here was very old and you could feel the vibe of old the Europe which was amazing for me.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The original tale is much better but also darker then the version kids see.
It is different but not that different from what you might remember from first hearing this tale as a kid.
The plot here are very good but also dark which is the mix which I personally like a lot.
The writing style here was very old and you could feel the vibe of old the Europe which was amazing for me.
August 13, 2020
Listening Time : 13 min
June 4, 2025
In this Thumbling tale, a couple without children wish for a child-- even if he's no bigger than a thumb. Thumbling comes along and helps his parents through various schemes become more prosperous through unconventional means.
June 30, 2023
Una historia bastante sosa que desconozco si fue anterior o posterior a Pulgarcita, pero el cuento de aquella chica diminuta supera a este con creces.
August 30, 2024
I liked the idea, but more could have been done with it in my opinion.
January 8, 2025
I had always thought Tom Thumb was a more interesting story than an adventure to get home through several animals' stomachs. And how did a very small man have such a loud voice?
July 18, 2025
When you are little, you can go to places where most people can't go.
Life then becomes an adventure, but you always return home.
Life then becomes an adventure, but you always return home.
July 18, 2026
That's more than enough adventure and trauma to last Thumbling a lifetime. But I won't lie, the whole time I kept imagining the horrifying smells the poor thing must have had to bear. 🤢
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews