When Tall Tim of the Mountains and his good wife Kate long for a child, Merlin the sorcerer grants their wish, and a son no bigger than a thumb is born to them. Blessed by the Fairy Queen, this miniature boy has many extraordinary adventures, escaping from the mouth of a cow and the claws of a raven. Tumbling into the castle of Gembo the giant, Tom eventually succeeds in driving this scourge of the countryside away, finding himself knighted by King Arthur for his deeds. Eventually he returns home, where his parents (and the fairy folk) welcome him with open arms...

First published in 1621, The History of Tom Thumb was the first fairy-tale ever printed in English, and is a story believed to have been abroad in the culture far earlier than that. According to Marianna Mayer's informative afterword, there are parallels between the story of Tom Thumb and that of both Cinderella and Jack the Giant Killer. Although she does not mention how close of an adaptation her text is, Mayer does state that in her research she used the only known surviving copy of the 1621 The History of Tom Thumb, the Little, for his small stature surnamed, King Arthur's Dwarfe: Whose Life and adventures containe many strange and wonderful accidents, published for the delight of merry Time-spenders, held at the Morgan Library in New York City. I enjoyed her retelling, so much so that now I long to visit the Morgan myself, and read the original! The artwork from master illustrator Kinuko Craft is simply gorgeous, as always, and captures the enchantment and excitement of the story perfectly. I loved her depiction of Merlin, of the Fairy Queen, and of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and the Knights. Recommended to all fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who appreciate beautiful picture-book art. ( )

The Adventures of Tom Thumb tells the story of the son of Tall Tim and Kate. The two wished for a son and Tall Tim said he would have a son even as small as his thumb. Merlin, King Arthur's wizard, grants the couple their wish and Tom Thumb is born. Tom Thumb is blessed by the little people's queen and he granted a sword that he can use throughout his life. The book goes on to tell the wild adventures Tom Thumb goes on. Most of these adventures start with Tom Thumb inside of an animal. This story is driven by the oral story tradition. The lively illustrations help enhance the story. The theme is no matter how different you are from others, you can still live a happy life. Tom Thumb is smaller than a thumb, but he lives an exciting life. He is able to do anything others can do. Another theme is to be determined and never give up. Tom Thumb gets himself in some sticky situations, but he never gives up and preserves until he finds a way out of his situation. ( )

This story teaches you that no matter your size, you can accomplish anything if you put your heart and mind into it. very very inspirational. ( )

The illustrations in this book are great for children, and are very engaging. I especially like the message in this tale about defying all odds. I think this would be a very appealing topic for kids, as I believe they feel pretty small at times, and wonder if they can make the hurdle. Fantastic children's book for the classroom.

Mayer's animated retelling of Tom Thumb's adventures and Craft's affectionate portrayal of the cherubic yet impish hero make for an enjoyable 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