#553 of 1001 · February 4, 2022

How formidable even the the gentlest corners of the world must appear from the perspective of the protagonist of today’s book, The Adventures of Tom Thumb by Marianna Mayer and Kinuko Y. Craft. Tall Tim of the Mountains and his wife Kate dearly wish for a child. Tim seeks out Merlin the wizard and declares that he would be happy even with a baby no bigger than his thumb. The powerful enchanter takes him at his word, and soon a tiny child is born to the couple. The Queen of the Little People arrived to see the miraculous infant and names him Tom Thumb. Tom encounters a series of misadventures as he grows into a boy, not least being swallowed and coughed up by the terrible giant Gembo. Mayer’s spirited retelling echoes with high adventure. Craft’s illustrations, oil over watercolor, create a warm, enthralling glow. A note for folklore enthusiasts: Tom Thumb, a beloved figure in English folktales and legends, has been recorded in various booklets, travelogues, satires, stage plays, and operas since the sixteenth century. #merlin #wizard #fairy #giant #castle #england #english #magic #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks