Welcome to Tom Tit Tot, a famous English fairy tale.
This story is about a young girl whose small mistake changes her life. She becomes a queen, but soon she faces a very difficult problem. Then a strange little creature offers to help her. However, the help comes with a dangerous promise.
Can the queen discover the creature’s secret name? Will she save herself before it is too late?
This story has been rewritten for B1 English learners. It uses simple words, clear sentences, and natural conversations to help you improve your English while enjoying a classic fairy tale.
Let’s begin!
This story was rewritten by bestchildrenstories.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright.
Tom Tit Tot
Collected by Joseph Jacobs.
Contents
Grammar Exercises
Chapter One
The Five Pies
Once upon a time, there was a poor woman and her daughter. They lived together in a small cottage near a quiet village. Their home was simple, but they always tried to help each other.
One cool autumn morning, the woman baked five large pies. The wonderful smell filled the little house. When the pies came out of the oven, the crusts were too hard.
The woman looked at them and said,
“Put these pies on the shelf, my daughter. Leave them there for a while. They will come again.”
She only meant that the crusts would become soft after some time. But the girl did not understand.
“If they will come again,” she thought, “I can eat these now.”
She loved fresh pies. She ate one pie. Then another. Soon she finished all five pies.
Only the empty dishes were left on the shelf. That evening, the woman smiled.
“Please bring one pie for our supper,” she said. “They should be ready now.”
The girl walked to the shelf. She looked. There were no pies. She slowly returned.
“They have not come again,” she said.
Her mother frowned.
“Not one?”
“No, not one.”
“Bring me the best one,” her mother said.
The girl looked down.
“I cannot.”
“Why not?”
“I ate them all.”
For a moment, the room became very quiet. The woman was surprised. Then she sighed.
“There are no pies for supper now,” she said.
After supper, the woman sat outside with her spinning wheel. She was still thinking about the pies. As she worked, she sang a little song.
“My daughter ate five, five pies today.
My daughter ate five, five pies today.”
At that moment, the king was riding through the village. He heard the song, but he could not hear every word. He stopped his horse.
“Good woman,” he called kindly, “what are you singing?”
The woman felt embarrassed. She did not want the king to know what her daughter had done. So she quickly changed the words.
“My daughter spun five, five skeins today.
My daughter spun five, five skeins today.”
The king looked amazed.
“Five skeins in one day?” he said.
“I have never heard of such a clever young woman.”
Then he smiled.
“I want to marry a wise and hardworking wife.”
He looked at the daughter.
“I will marry her.”
The woman could hardly believe her ears. The girl was just as surprised. The king continued,
“For eleven months every year, she may enjoy a happy life.”
“She may wear beautiful dresses.”
“She may eat good food.”
“She may meet anyone she likes.”
“But during the last month of the year, she must spin five skeins every day.”
“If she cannot do it, she will die.”
The woman became worried for a moment. Her daughter had never learned to spin. But a marriage to the king was a great honor.
“Perhaps,” she thought, “he will forget that promise.”
So she agreed. Soon, the king and the girl were married. The girl became the young queen. For eleven happy months, everything was wonderful.
She wore beautiful clothes. She ate delicious food. She walked in the lovely palace gardens. She laughed with many visitors.
Almost every day, she forgot about the king’s strange promise. But time passed quickly. Soon, only one month remained. The queen began to worry.
“Will the king remember?” she wondered.
For many days, he said nothing. She started to feel hopeful.
“Maybe he forgot,” she thought.
But on the last day before the final month, the king took her to a room she had never seen before. The room was almost empty.
There was only a spinning wheel, a stool, and a basket of flax. The king looked serious.
“My dear,” he said, “tomorrow you will stay here.”
“Every day you will receive food and flax.”
“By night, you must spin five skeins.”
“If you fail…”
He stopped for a moment.
“…you will die.”
Then he quietly left the room. The queen stood alone. Her face became pale. She looked at the spinning wheel. She had never used one.
She did not know where to begin. Tears filled her eyes.
“What can I do?” she whispered.
She sat down and cried. After a few minutes, she heard a soft knock.
Knock… Knock…
The sound came from the window. Slowly, she opened it. Outside stood a very strange little creature.
It was small and black. It had bright eyes. Its hands and feet were tiny. Behind it, a long tail moved from side to side. The little creature smiled.
“Why are you crying?” it asked.
The queen stepped back.
“That is not your business,” she answered.
The creature laughed softly.
“Perhaps not,” it said.
“But maybe I can help you.”
The queen looked at it with surprise.
“You can help me?”
“Yes.”
“But first, tell me your story.”
The queen did not trust the strange visitor. Still, she felt lonely. She had no one else. So she told the creature everything. She told it about the five pies. She told it about her mother’s song. She told it about the king.
Finally, she pointed to the spinning wheel.
“I cannot spin,” she said sadly.
“Tomorrow night, if I do not make five skeins, I will die.”
The little creature nodded slowly.
“I can spin the flax for you,” it said.
The queen’s eyes became wide.
“You can?”
“Of course.”
“What do you want in return?”
The creature’s long tail began to twirl.
“I do not want gold.”
“I do not want silver.”
“I do not want beautiful clothes.”
“I only want one thing.”
“What is it?” the queen asked quietly.
“For one month,” the creature said, “I will spin your flax.”
“Every morning I will take it.”
“Every evening I will bring back five skeins.”
“But every night you must guess my name.”
“You may guess three times.”
“If you say my name before the month ends, you will be free.”
“But if you cannot…”
The creature smiled.
“…you will belong to me.”
The queen felt cold with fear. It was a dangerous promise. But without help, she would certainly die. She took a deep breath.
“I agree.”
The creature laughed happily. Its tail spun so fast that it looked like a little black circle.
“Good,” it said.
“I will return tomorrow morning.”
Then, with one quick jump, it disappeared into the dark night. The queen looked out of the window. The little creature was gone. She did not know whether she had made the best decision…
or the worst one.
Chapter Two
Tom Tit Tot
The next morning, the king brought a basket of flax and some food into the room.
“There is your work,” he said.
“When I return tonight, I want to see five skeins.”
Then he locked the door. The queen looked at the basket with fear. She still did not know how to spin. Only a few minutes later, she heard a soft knock.
Knock… Knock…
She quickly opened the window. The little black creature was waiting outside.
“Good morning,” it said with a smile.
“Give me the flax.”
The queen handed it the basket. The creature picked it up easily, although it was much bigger than itself.
“I will come back tonight,” it said.
Then it disappeared. The room became quiet again. The queen spent the whole day thinking.
“What could its name be?” she wondered.
She whispered many names.
“John?”
“No…”
“Peter?”
“No…”
“Thomas?”
“No…”
When evening came, she heard another knock. The creature stood outside with five perfect skeins.
“Here is your work,” it said proudly.
The queen smiled with relief.
“Thank you.”
The little creature folded its tiny arms.
“Now,” it said.
“What is my name?”
The queen thought carefully.
“Is your name Bill?”
The creature laughed.
“No.”
“Is your name Mark?”
“No.”
“Is your name Ned?”
Again, the creature shook its head.
“No.”
Its long tail twirled happily.
“You have used your three guesses.”
“I will see you tomorrow.”
In one quick jump, it disappeared. A few moments later, the king opened the door. He looked at the five skeins. A smile appeared on his face.
“Excellent,” he said.
“You have done your work well.”
The queen smiled, but inside she was still afraid.
The same thing happened every day. Every morning, the creature came for the flax. Every evening, it returned with five beautiful skeins. Every night, the queen guessed three different names.
“Henry?”
“No.”
“William?”
“No.”
“Robert?”
“No.”
The creature always laughed. Its tail spun faster every time she guessed wrong. The days passed quickly. Soon, only two days remained.
The queen became more worried. She had guessed many names.
Andrew.
Richard.
Simon.
Daniel.
George.
Samuel.
Michael.
Edward.
Nicholas.
None of them were correct. The little creature smiled proudly.
“There are not many days left,” it said.
“Soon you will belong to me.”
The queen could not sleep that night. She tried to remember every name she had ever heard. But nothing helped.
The next day, the creature brought the five skeins again.
“Have you guessed my name yet?” it asked.
The queen took a deep breath.
“Is your name Nicodemus?”
“No.”
“Is your name Methuselah?”
“No.”
“Is your name Solomon?”
The creature laughed loudly.
“No.”
Its bright eyes shone like fire.
“Tomorrow is your last chance.”
“After tomorrow night…”
“…you will be mine.”
Then it disappeared into the darkness. The queen sat down and began to cry. Just then, she heard footsteps outside. The king opened the door.
“My dear,” he said kindly,
“You have worked very well.”
“I think you will finish tomorrow too.”
“Tonight I will have supper with you.”
The servants brought delicious food into the room. While they were eating, the king suddenly laughed.
“What is so funny?” the queen asked.
The king smiled.
“Today I went hunting in the forest.”
“I found a place I had never seen before.”
“There was an old pit in the ground.”
“I heard someone singing.”
“So I walked quietly to see who it was.”
“What did you see?” asked the queen.
“I saw the funniest little black creature in the world.”
“It was spinning flax as fast as the wind.”
“Its long tail was moving round and round.”
“And it was singing this strange song.”
The king laughed again. Then he slowly repeated the words.
‘Nimmy, Nimmy, Not,
My name is Tom Tit Tot!’
The queen almost jumped with joy. At last! She knew the creature’s name. But she smiled calmly. She did not tell the king why she was so happy.
The final morning arrived. The creature came for the flax as usual. It looked happier than ever.
“This is the last day,” it said.
“I will see you tonight.”
All day, the queen waited. She was no longer afraid. She knew exactly what she would say. When night came, there was one last knock.
Knock… Knock…
The little creature climbed onto the window. It handed her the five skeins. Then it laughed.
“Now, Queen,” it said.
“What is my name?”
The queen pretended to think.
“Is your name David?”
The creature laughed.
“No.”
“Is your name Benjamin?”
Again, it laughed.
“No.”
Its tail spun faster and faster.
“This is your last guess,” it said.
“You belong to me now.”
The queen smiled. She looked straight into its bright eyes. Then she said clearly,
“Your name is Tom Tit Tot.”
For a moment, everything became silent. The creature’s smile disappeared. Its eyes became wide with surprise.
“What?” it cried.
“How did you know my name?”
It stamped its little feet. It waved its tiny hands. Its tail spun so fast that nobody could see it. Then it gave a terrible scream.
“No! No! No!”
In one quick flash, it disappeared into the dark night. The queen never saw Tom Tit Tot again.
The next morning, the king found the five skeins in the room. He smiled proudly.
“My dear,” he said,
“You have finished all your work.”
“You are safe.”
The queen smiled warmly. She did not tell him about the magical creature. Some secrets were better left untold. From that day, she lived happily with the king. She never forgot the strange month that changed her life forever.
Moral
Always tell the truth, because one small lie can grow into a big problem.
Be brave when life is difficult, and never lose hope. Sometimes the answer comes when you least expect it.
— THE END –
Read the original story: storyberries.com
Vocabulary
1. Cottage – a small, simple house, usually in the countryside.
Example: They lived together in a small cottage near a quiet village.
2. Shelf – a flat place on a wall where things are kept.
Example: Put these pies on the shelf, my daughter.
3. Frown – to bring your eyebrows together because you are unhappy or worried.
Example: Her mother frowned.
4. Sigh – to breathe out deeply because you are tired, sad, or disappointed.
Example: Then she sighed.
5. Skein – a long piece of thread or yarn wound together.
Example: By night, you must spin five skeins.
6. Flax – a plant used to make linen and thread.
Example: Every day you will receive food and flax.
7. Pale – having little color in your face because of fear or illness.
Example: Her face became pale.
8. Whisper – to speak very quietly.
Example: “What can I do?” she whispered.
9. Crust – the hard outside part of bread or a pie.
Example: The crusts were too hard.
10. Sigh – to breathe out deeply because you are tired, sad, or disappointed.
Example: Then she sighed.
11. Knock – to hit a door or window to get someone’s attention.
Example: She heard a soft knock.
12. Creature – a living thing, especially a strange or unusual one.
Example: Outside stood a very strange little creature.
13. Tiny – extremely small.
Example: Its hands and feet were tiny.
14. Tail – the long part at the back of an animal’s body.
Example: Its long tail moved from side to side.
15. Trust – to believe that someone is honest or reliable.
Example: The queen did not trust the strange visitor.
16. Brave – willing to face danger, difficulty, or fear without giving up.
Example: Be brave when life is difficult, and never lose hope.
Comprehension Questions
1. Why did the girl eat all five pies, and what misunderstanding caused her mistake?
2. Why did the girl’s mother change the words of her song when the king spoke to her?
3. Why did the king decide to marry the young woman after hearing the song?
4. What difficult condition did the king give the queen for the last month of every year?
5. Why was the queen so frightened when the king showed her the spinning room?
6. How did the strange little creature offer to help the queen, and what did it ask for in return?
7. Why did the queen finally agree to the creature’s unusual bargain?
8. What happened every morning and every evening during the month?
9. Why was guessing the creature’s name more difficult than the queen expected?
10. How did the creature behave whenever the queen guessed the wrong name?
11. What important discovery did the king make while he was hunting in the forest?
12. How did the king’s story help the queen solve her problem without realizing it?
13. Why did the queen pretend to guess two wrong names before saying “Tom Tit Tot”?
14. How did Tom Tit Tot react when the queen finally said his real name?
15. Why do you think the queen decided not to tell the king about the magical creature after everything was over?
16. What lessons can readers learn from the queen’s mistakes, her courage, and the ending of the story?
Grammar Exercises
1. Why __ the girl eat all five pies?
A) does
B) did
C) has
D) was
2. The king believed that the young woman __ very hardworking.
A) is
B) was
C) has been
D) will be
3. The strange creature offered ______ the flax for the queen.
A) spin
B) spinning
C) to spin
D) spun
4. By the time the king opened the door, the creature ______ five skeins.
A) makes
B) made
C) had made
D) has made
5. The queen couldn’t guess the creature’s name, __ she?
A) could
B) couldn’t
C) did
D) didn’t
6. The creature said that the queen __ belong to him if she failed.
A) will
B) would
C) has
D) is
7. Which sentence is correct?
A) The queen was too frightened to spin.
B) The queen was enough frightened to spin.
C) The queen was so frightened for spinning.
D) The queen frightened too much.
8. The king found the little creature ______ in the forest.
A) sing
B) sang
C) singing
D) to sing
9. If the queen __ five skeins every day, she would die.
A) doesn’t spin
B) didn’t spin
C) hadn’t spun
D) wouldn’t spin
10. The queen agreed to the creature’s plan ______ she was afraid.
A) although
B) because
C) unless
D) if
11. If the king ______ the strange song, the queen might never have learned the creature’s name.
A) didn’t hear
B) hadn’t heard
C) doesn’t hear
D) hasn’t heard
12. Which sentence uses the passive voice correctly?
A) The flax was spun by the creature.
B) The creature was spin the flax.
C) The flax was spinning by the creature.
D) The creature has spun by the flax.
13. The room ______ the king showed the queen was almost empty.
A) who
B) which
C) where
D) whose
14. Which sentence is reported speech?
A) The king said, “Tomorrow you will stay here.”
B) The king said that the queen would stay there the next day.
C) The king says tomorrow you stay here.
D) The king told tomorrow stay here.
15. The queen smiled with ______ when she saw the five skeins.
A) relieved
B) relief
C) relieve
D) relieving
16. Which sentence best completes the story?
A) If the queen hadn’t discovered Tom Tit Tot’s name, she would have lost the bargain.
B) If the queen didn’t discover Tom Tit Tot’s name, she loses the bargain.
C) If the queen hasn’t discovered Tom Tit Tot’s name, she would lose the bargain.
D) If the queen wouldn’t discover Tom Tit Tot’s name, she had lost the bargain
Answers:
- B, 2. B, 3. B, 4. B, 5. C, 6. C, 7. A, 8. B, 9. A, 10. C, 11. B, 12. A, 13. B, 14. B, 15. B, 16. A
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