The Adventures of Tom Thumb

Marianna Mayer

ISBN 10: 1587170655 ISBN 13: 9781587170652

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2001

Synopsis

Despite his small size, Tom Thumb is determined to do anything and everything that everyone else can do--and sometimes even more. By the creators of Pegasus. 28,000 first printing.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Mayer introduces the little hero who comes of a wish granted by Merlin to a childless farm couple and who eventually becomes the darling of King Arthur's court. In quick succession, Tom is swallowed by a cow and tickles his way out, and is snatched by a raven that drops him down the chimney of none other than the giant who has been plaguing the countryside. The protagonist offers his services around the house, but eventually the huge man's evil nature overtakes him and he eats Tom. Having already dealt with the cow, Tom gives Gembo such a case of intestinal distress that the giant coughs him into the moat, where he is eaten by an enormous salmon, which a fisherman catches and takes to King Arthur. Since Gembo has left the country in shame, Tom is knighted and feted by the court, and when he begins to miss his parents, he returns to their farm with a bag of gold coins. Mayer's fine retelling is sure to capture the fancy of young readers as happily as she's captured the spirit of the little fellow's adventures. Less wordy than older retellings, this luscious edition will find a ready audience, and the source notes will aid and satisfy teachers and researchers. Craft's opulent oil-over-watercolor illustrations will draw in even the most reluctant reader. The impish Tom, with curly red hair and freckles, is dressed in elfin finery with a tiny, magic sword strapped at his side. An appealing choice for even the youngest reader to embrace.
Jeanne Clancy Watkins, Chester County Library, Exton, PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

In this collaboration from the creators of Pegasus, Mayer's animated retelling of Tom Thumb's adventures and Craft's affectionate portrayal of the cherubic yet impish hero make for an enjoyable, if disjointed, read. In the time of King Arthur, Merlin uses his magic to grant Tim and Kate a son no bigger than Tim's thumb. In spite of the boy's protection by his fairy godmother, Tom Thumb endures a number of mishaps because of his size (he is swallowed three times) but survives to vanquish the fierce giant Gembo from the land. For this King Arthur knights him: "Sir Tom Thumb evermore the smallest and the boldest of the crown's protectors." Craft's renderings of architecture, dress and border art, inspired by 12th-century manuscripts and illustrations, capture both the grand and comic elements of the story. Scenes of a humiliated knight returning to the Round Table with the giant's bites taken out of his sword and shield or of Tom escaping down Gembo's mountainous shoulder will tickle the funny bones of many readers, while the diminutive fellow's reunion with his parents ends the volume on a note of happy recognition. Mayer's effort to form one coherent story out of a number of different episodes is not always smooth; still, this charming rendition does a nice job of introducing a classic character. Ages 5-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1587170655
• ISBN 13: 9781587170652
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Kinuko Craft