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Tom Thumb: a book club kit
Where it comes from. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, two brothers in Germany, added this to their book of tales in 1819 as "Thumbling." English tellers call him Tom Thumb.
In short (for the leader; it gives the ending away). A poor farmer and his wife wish for a child, even one as small as a thumb, and they get Tom Thumb. He never grows, but he is quick and clever and goes on many adventures. At the end he tricks a hungry wolf into leading him home, and his parents are glad to have him back.
The lesson, in one line. Being small does not stop a clever, brave child, and home is where you are loved.
Reading plan. Read it together at the meeting: about 7 minutes aloud, or ahead of time at home.
Questions to talk about
- What is the moral of Tom Thumb?
The story's answer: Being small does not stop a clever, brave child, and home is where you are loved. - Who wrote Tom Thumb?
The story's answer: The Brothers Grimm added it to their book of tales in 1819 under the name Thumbling. A different English Tom Thumb tale is older. - How small is Tom Thumb?
The story's answer: He is only as tall as a thumb. His mother makes him a tiny coat and tiny shoes. - How does Tom get home at the end?
The story's answer: He tricks a wolf into carrying him back to his father's house, then calls out for help and the farmer and his wife chase the wolf away. - Who in the story was kind, and who was not? How do you know?
Listen for: Ask for the moment in the story that shows it. - Which part would you change, and how would the story end then?
Listen for: There is no wrong ending; ask what else would have to change.
Did you know?
- The Brothers Grimm added it to their book of tales in 1819, the book’s second edition, as “Thumbling”.
- An English tale about Tom Thumb is also very old and is a different story.
- Tom is so small that his mother sets him in the horse's ear, and from there he drives the cart by calling out.
Activity: Draw the story as a map
On one big sheet, draw every place the story happens and the path between them. Mark the spot where things go wrong and the spot where they come right.
More to talk about
More facts for the leader
- In the end he is safe at home, and his parents say they would not sell him for all the gold in the world.
Words to teach before you start
- clever: quick and smart
- brim: hat's edge
- scurried: ran quickly
- robbers: people who steal
- pantry: food cupboard
- lantern: a covered light
Questions leaders ask
How long does a Tom Thumb book club meeting take?
Reading it aloud takes about 7 minutes in all, so plan one meeting of 30 to 45 minutes, with time left for the questions. The reading plan on the sheet says where to stop.
What age is Tom Thumb for?
It is written at Peabody level 8, a grade 3 reading level, so most children at that level can read it alone. Younger children can listen to it read aloud.
Do the children need to read it before the meeting?
No. Each child can read it free on Peabody, before the meeting or together at it, and the questions work either way. The sheet's short version gives the ending away, so keep it for the leader.
How do I use the questions?
Start with the story's own questions, which have answers in the leader's notes, then move to the open ones and listen for reasons. There is no wrong answer to an open question. Stop when the group runs out of things to say.
Club kits for stories like this
- Jack and the Beanstalk (level 8)
- Stone Soup (level 8)
- The Bremen Town Musicians (level 8)
- The Elves and the Shoemaker (level 8)
- The Ugly Duckling (level 8)
- The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats (level 8)
How this kit is made
The short version, the facts and the first questions with their answers are the story's own, written for its page in Peabody's library and checked against the sources named there. The open questions, the activity and the plan are Peabody's, written for this kind of story. No part of it is written by a computer model.
Running the meeting: the meeting plans (30, 45 and 60 minutes) and the sign-up sheet.