STORY GUIDE Tom Thumb Original story by: The Brothers Grimm Read by: Marc Thompson morals and themes Appreciate what you have, Everybody is Important, Tolerance and Accepting Differences general comprehension questions • Where does the story take place? • What are the problems the characters face? • Who are the characters? • How do they solve these problems? • Who is your favorite character and why? • How does the story end? • Which character don’t you like and why? • What lesson does this story teach you? discussion questions • What was unusual about Tom Thumb? How did this affect his life? • Why do you think Tom wanted to help do chores so badly? • Why do you think the hawk decided to help Tom Thumb? • What did Tom learn about himself during his adventure? • This story is a good lead in to class discussion about differences between people. • Have your students talk about times that they have felt “different,” and how they handled it. extension questions research activity • What other stories does this remind you of? Use the internet or library to research woodcutting. • How does this story relate to your own life? • What tools do woodcutters use to chop down a tree? • Write an alternate ending for the story. • Find and read the story about George Washington and the • Write your own version of what happens next. Cherry Tree. Do you like the story? notes on this adaptation Based on a character popularized by the Brothers Grimm, this story re-imagines Tom Thumb as a boy who proves to be caring beyond his size and wise beyond his years. Tom is somewhat of an outcast in a society of 5-foot-plus humans, but within his family and his home, he finds that he truly has an important place in the world after all. If you’re students enjoy this story, they might also enjoy Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen. .