Storytime with Kray

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by Richard Johnson | 1621

Tom Thumb is born the size of his dad’s thumb thanks to a little magic from Merlin. Tiny but fearless, he charges headfirst into a world far too big for him. He gets swallowed by a pudding, eaten by a cow, and still finds a way to come out ahead. 

From mouse-back rides to wild escapes, he keeps proving that size means nothing when you have brains and guts. By the end, he is not just surviving. He is a knight of the realm and a legend in his own right.

Notable Quotes:

• "I should be the happiest creature in the world if I had a son; although he was no bigger than my husband's thumb, I would be satisfied."
• "An oak-leaf hat he had for his crown; His shirt of web by spiders spun..."
• "Mother, mother! ...Here, mother... in the red cow's mouth."
• "They carried him to the king, who made Tom his dwarf, and he soon grew a great favourite at court..."
• "He fell dead on the ground where he stood, And the spider suck'd every drop of his blood."

Summary:

• A poor ploughman's wife wishes for a child, even one "no bigger than my husband's thumb," a wish granted by Merlin the magician.
• The tiny boy, named Tom Thumb by the Queen of the Fairies, is known for his cunning and mischievous tricks.
• Tom has several perilous adventures, including being swallowed by a batter pudding, a cow, and a fish, but always escapes.
• He eventually finds himself at King Arthur's court, where his cleverness and antics make him a royal favorite.
• The King rewards Tom with riches for his family, a grand new outfit, a mouse to ride, and even a miniature palace.
• The envious Queen tries to harm Tom, leading to further escapes, including hiding in a snail-shell and riding a butterfly.
• Despite his many near-fatal encounters, Tom's adventures sadly end when he is finally defeated by a poisonous spider.
• King Arthur and his court mourn the loss of their beloved little knight, erecting a monument in his honor.

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by W.W. Denslow | 1903

Meet Humpty Dumpty, a wobbly little optimist with one big fear: falling. Tired of living in constant worry, he sets out for advice and ends up with the Farmer's Wife, who gives him a whole new perspective. 

One quick boil later, Humpty is no longer fragile. He’s tough, fearless, and ready to take on the world. Instead of breaking, he travels, teaches, and leaves a trail of joy behind him. Turns out, cracking isn't the end. It's just the start of something better.

Notable Quotes:

• "Only one thing troubled Humpty, and that was, that he might fall and crack his thin, white skin; he wished to be hard, all the way through..."
• "'Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall; All the king's horses, and all the king's men Cannot put Humpty-Dumpty together again.'"
• "What you must do... is to go to the Farmer's Wife, next door, and tell her to put you into a pot of boiling hot water..."
• "He did not have to stay in the water long, before he was quite well done, and as hard as a brick all the way through..."

Summary:

• Humpty-Dumpty, a cheerful but fragile egg, fears falling and cracking.
• He seeks advice from the wise Black Hen, who tells him the cautionary tale of his reckless father.
• The Hen advises Humpty to ask the Farmer's Wife to boil him, which will make him hard and unbreakable.
• The Farmer's Wife boils Humpty, wrapping him in a festive calico rag that gives him red spots.
• Transformed into a hard-boiled, nimble egg, Humpty is now fearless and full of pranks.
• He embarks on global travels, bringing joy to others as a clown or minstrel.
• Throughout his life, Humpty remains grateful to the Black Hen and Farmer's Wife for helping him become resilient and ready to cheer the world.

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by the Brothers Grimm | 1812

Rapunzel has hair for days and a view of nothing but sky, locked away in a tower by a controlling enchantress. A prince hears her singing, climbs his way into her life, and together they hatch a plan to break free. It doesn't go well. 

When they're caught, everything falls apart. The prince is blinded, Rapunzel is cast out, and hope seems lost. But fate has other plans, and their love survives the chaos, leading to a reunion that heals more than just broken hearts.

Notable Quotes:

• "Ah... if I can’t eat some of the rampion, which is in the garden behind our house, I shall die."
• "If the case be as you say, I will allow you to take away with you as much rampion as you will, only I make one condition, you must give me the child which your wife will bring into the world..."
• "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair to me."
• "He will love me more than old Dame Gothel does."
• "Ah! you wicked child... I thought I had separated you from all the world, and yet you have deceived me!"

Summary:

• A pregnant woman's longing for rapunzel from an enchantress's garden leads her husband to steal it, in exchange for their unborn child.
• The enchantress, Dame Gothel, names the baby Rapunzel and, at age twelve, locks her in a tower with no doors or stairs, reachable only by her long hair.
• A King's son hears Rapunzel's beautiful singing and learns how to climb her hair to visit her.
• They fall in love and plan her escape by weaving a ladder of silk.
• Rapunzel inadvertently reveals the Prince's visits to Dame Gothel, who furiously cuts Rapunzel's hair and banishes her to a desert.
• Dame Gothel then tricks the Prince, causing him to leap from the tower and be blinded by thorns.
• He wanders for years until he finds Rapunzel and their twin children in the desert; her tears restore his sight.
• They return to his kingdom and live happily ever after.

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by Aesop | 1484

Step into the world of Aesop's Fables, where animals talk, schemes unravel, and human nature gets put under the microscope. 

The slow-and-steady Tortoise schools the cocky Hare. A slick Fox throws an Ass under the bus to save his own tail. Greed wrecks everything in the tale of the Golden Goose, and a thirsty Pigeon learns the hard way that diving headfirst doesn't always end well. 

These stories might be old, but the lessons hit just as hard today.

The Hare and the Tortoise

Notable Quotes:

• "Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race.”
• "The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course."

Summary:

• A boastful Hare challenges a slow Tortoise to a race.
• The Hare, overconfident, takes a nap during the race.
• The Tortoise, despite its slow pace, continues steadily without stopping.
• The Tortoise wins the race, teaching that slow and steady wins the race.

The Fox and the Goat

Notable Quotes:

• "If... you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.”
• “You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up..."

Summary:

• A Fox falls into a well and can't escape.
• A thirsty Goat comes along, and the Fox tricks him into jumping into the well.
• The Fox uses the Goat to climb out of the well, then abandons him.
• The moral is to look before you leap, and consider consequences.

The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs

Notable Quotes:

• "A Man and his Wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid a Golden Egg every day."
• "...imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once."

Summary:

• A couple owns a goose that lays one golden egg every day.
• Greedy for more wealth, they kill the goose, thinking it's full of gold.
• They find the goose is ordinary inside and lose their daily golden egg.
• The fable warns that much wants more and loses all.

The Ass, The Fox and the Lion

Notable Quotes:

• "I'll manage that you shall get hold of the Ass without the trouble of stalking him, if you'll promise to let me go free."
• "When the Lion saw that the Ass was safely caught... it was to the Fox that he first turned his attention, and he soon finished him off..."

Summary:

• The Fox betrays the Ass, leading him into a trap in exchange for his own safety.
• The Lion, after securing the Ass, immediately turns on and devours the treacherous Fox first.
• The lesson is clear: betray a friend, and you'll often find you have ruined yourself.

The Thirsty Pigeon

Notable Quotes:

• "Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly."
• "Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders."

Summary:

• A very thirsty Pigeon sees what appears to be water painted on a signboard.
• Without thinking, she flies directly at the painting, crashing into it.
• She breaks her wings and falls to the ground, where she is captured.
• The moral emphasizes that

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by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe | 1843

Three hungry billy goats, all named Gruff, need to cross a bridge to reach greener pastures. The only problem is the nasty Troll waiting underneath, ready to turn them into lunch. 

One by one, the smaller goats use quick thinking to stall him. Then the biggest goat shows up and ends the nonsense with a head-on clash that sends the Troll packing. It's a story about brains, brawn, and not backing down when it counts.

Notable Quotes:

• "Who's that tripping over my bridge?"
• "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin."
• "Oh, no! Pray don't take me. I'm too little, that I am; wait a bit till the second billy-goat Gruff comes, he's much bigger."
• "IT'S I! THE BIG BILLY-GOAT GRUFF."
• "Well, come along! I've got two spears, And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears; I've got besides two curling-stones, And I'll crush you to bits, body and bones."

Summary:

• Three Billy Goats Gruff, wanting to get fat on the hillside, must cross a bridge inhabited by a terrifying Troll.
• The youngest billy goat crosses first, convincing the Troll to wait for his bigger brother.
• The middle billy goat then crosses, also persuading the Troll to wait for the biggest brother.
• Finally, the big billy goat Gruff crosses. Instead of tricking the Troll, he confronts him directly.
• The big billy goat uses his horns and strength to defeat the ugly Troll, throwing him into the burn.
• With the Troll gone, all three billy goats safely reach the hillside, get fat, and live happily ever after.

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by the Brothers Grimm | 1812

Hansel and Gretel are two kids dumped in the woods when food runs out and desperation takes over. Lost and hungry, they stumble across a candy-covered house that looks like a dream but hides a nightmare. Inside waits a witch with a sweet tooth for children and a plan to fatten them up for dinner. 

But Gretel's got other ideas. With some quick thinking and a lot of guts, she flips the script, torches the witch, and they make it out alive, richer, smarter, and ready to go home.

Notable Quotes:

• "What is to become of us? How are we to feed our poor children, when we no longer have anything even for ourselves?"
• "Be quiet, Gretel... I will soon find a way to help us."
• "Nibble, nibble, gnaw, Who is nibbling at my little house?"
• "Hansel, we are saved! The old witch is dead!"
• "Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?"

Summary:

• A poor woodcutter and his wife plan to abandon their children, Hansel and Gretel, in the forest due to famine.
• Hansel overhears and twice tries to mark their path: first with pebbles (which works), then with breadcrumbs (which birds eat).
• Lost deeper in the forest, the hungry children find a house made of bread and cakes.
• The house belongs to a wicked witch who lures children to fatten and eat them.
• The witch imprisons Hansel and forces Gretel to cook for him, intending to eat them both.
• Gretel outsmarts the nearly blind witch, tricking her into climbing into the oven, then shoves her in and locks the door.
• Hansel and Gretel escape, find chests of jewels in the witch's house, and carry them.
• A friendly duck helps them cross a large body of water, and they find their way back home.
• They reunite with their father, discovering their stepmother has died, and live happily ever after with their new riches.

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by W.W.Denslow | 1903

Meet Golden Hair, a scrappy orphan with a good heart and a knack for making friends in wild places. One day she wanders into a disaster of a cabin owned by three very surprised bears: Papa, Mamma, and Tiny. 

Instead of running for the hills, she rolls up her sleeves and helps turn their chaos into comfort. What starts as trespassing turns into something better—an unexpected family built on friendship, warmth, and a whole lot of bear hugs.

Notable Quotes:

• "Although little Golden Hair lived far from other children she was never lonesome, for she had many friends and playmates in the wild creatures of the wood."
• "So this is where the jolly bears live! I want to meet them."
• "That soup smells good... but my! what an untidy house! I'll put the place to rights while I am waiting for the bears to come home."
• "The grandmother liked the three bears so well and the bears were so delighted with the comforts of home that they all decided to live together for the general good."

Summary:

• Golden Hair, an orphaned girl, lives with her grandmother and is friends with forest animals.
• She wanders into the forest and finds a cabin belonging to Papa Bear, Mamma Bear, and Tiny Bear.
• Finding the cabin untidy, Golden Hair cleans it and makes up the beds while the bears are out.
• The bears return, welcome Golden Hair, and are delighted by her helpfulness.
• After playing, the bears escort Golden Hair home to her anxious grandmother.
• The bears, enjoying the comforts of the cottage, decide to move in with Golden Hair and her grandmother.
• They divide household chores, live happily together, and become beloved playmates for children from all around.

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by Hans Christian Andersen | 1837

Welcome to the ridiculous saga of a fashion-obsessed Emperor who gets absolutely played by two scam-artist weavers. They promise him a “magical” fabric that only smart or worthy people can see. Spoiler: there is no fabric. 

Still, everyone nods along like it's couture on parade, terrified to admit they see nothing. Ministers fake it. Townsfolk cheer. The Emperor struts around in his birthday suit. Then a kid, too young to care about politics or job security, calls it like it is.

And just like that, the whole illusion unravels.

Notable Quotes:

• "He was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress."
• "...the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character."
• "What! Is it possible that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so."
• "How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit!"
• "But the Emperor has nothing at all on!"

Summary:

• An Emperor obsessed with clothes hires two rogues claiming to weave a magical fabric invisible to fools or those unfit for their positions.
• Court officials and the Emperor himself pretend to see the magnificent cloth, fearing they will be exposed as simpletons or unfit for office.
• The impostors "dress" the Emperor in his invisible new clothes for a grand procession.
• Everyone in the city praises the invisible garments, also fearing to admit they see nothing.
• A small child, speaking innocently, finally exclaims that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all.
• The truth then spreads, exposing the Emperor's vanity and the collective pretense of his court and subjects.

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by Charles Perrault | 1889

Get ready to dive into the beautifully messed-up tale of Cinderella, a kind soul stuck under the thumb of her nightmare stepmom and two goblins in wigs. 

Just when it looks like scrubbing floors is her forever plan, a little magic flips the script. Rags to ballgown, pumpkin to limo, and one night to make it count. But when midnight hits, reality checks back in hard. 

All she leaves behind is a glass slipper and a Prince with trust issues and no idea how shoes work.

Notable Quotes:

• "But she bore all her troubles with patience... she grew more lovely in face and figure every year."
• "Cinderella," said the Fairy, "I am your godmother... you shall go to the grand ball tonight, but you must do just as I bid you."
• "...giving her a caution to leave the ball before the clock struck twelve."
• "On her arrival, her beauty struck everybody with wonder."
• "To her alarm she heard the clock strike twelve."
• "...a royal herald proclaimed that the King's son would marry her whose foot the glass slipper should be found exactly to fit."

Summary:

• A kind girl endures hardship under a cruel stepfamily.
• Her Fairy Godmother magically transforms her for a royal ball, with a strict midnight deadline.
• She captivates the Prince but flees at midnight, losing a glass slipper.
• The Prince searches for the slipper's owner.
• The slipper miraculously fits Cinderella, revealing her true identity and leading to her marriage.

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by Frederick Warne & Co. | 1904

Three little pigs head out to make their way in the world. One builds with straw, another with sticks, and the last one with bricks. The Big Bad Wolf shows up ready to blow their plans to pieces. 

The first two pigs learn the hard way that shortcuts don’t hold up under pressure. But the third pig? He’s got patience, brains, and a house that doesn’t flinch. The wolf huffs, puffs, and fails, over and over, until things end in flames and fried ego. Turns out planning ahead beats blowing hot air.

Notable Quotes:

• "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in."
• "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin."
• "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"
• "Ready! I have been and come back again, and got a nice pot-full for dinner."
• "Hah! I frightened you, did I? I had been to the Fair and bought a butter churn, and when I saw you I got into it, and rolled down the hill."

Summary:

• An old Sow sends her three little pigs to seek their fortune.
• The first pig builds a house of straw, which the Wolf easily blows down and eats him.
• The second pig builds a house of furze, which the Wolf also blows down and eats him.
• The third pig builds a strong house of bricks, which the Wolf cannot blow down.
• The clever third pig outsmarts the Wolf multiple times by getting up early for turnips and apples.
• The pig also frightens the Wolf by rolling down a hill in a butter churn from the Fair.
• Finally, the smart pig tricks the Wolf into falling into a pot of boiling water when he attempts to come down the chimney, and eats him for supper.

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