An “evocative and entertaining” biography of the nineteenth century circus performer who became a global phenomenon (Neil Harris, author of Humbug). When P. T. Barnum met twenty-five-inch-tall Charles Stratton at a Bridgeport, Connecticut hotel in 1843, one of the most important partnerships in entertainment history was born. With Barnum’s promotional skills and the miniature Stratton’s comedic talents, they charmed a Who’s Who of the nineteenth century, from Queen Victoria to Charles Dickens to Abraham Lincoln. Adored worldwide as “General Tom Thumb,” Stratton played to sold-out shows for almost forty years. From his days as a precocious child star to his tragic early death, Becoming Tom Thumb tells the full story of this iconic figure for the first time. It details his triumphs on the New York stage, his epic celebrity wedding, and his around-the-world tour, drawing on newly available primary sources and interviews. From the mansions of Paris to the deserts of Australia, Stratton’s unique brand of Yankee comedy not only earned him the accolades of millions of fans, it helped move little people out of the side show and into the limelight.

The alphabet, forms of printed letters, and alphabet rhyme ("A was an Archer..."), followed by "easy lessons."

For anyone who loves the historical novels of Sara Gruen, Geraldine Brooks, and E. L. Doctorow, a barnstorming tale of an irrepressible, brawling, bawdy era and the remarkable woman who had the courage to match the unique spirit of America’s Gilded Age. She was only two feet, eight inches tall, but more than a century later, her legend reaches out to us. As a child, Mercy Lavinia “Vinnie” Warren Bump was encouraged to live a life hidden away from the public. Instead, she reached out to the immortal impresario P. T. Barnum, married the tiny superstar General Tom Thumb in the wedding of the century, and became the world’s most unexpected celebrity. Vinnie’s wedding captivated the nation, preempted coverage of the Civil War, and even ushered her into the White House. But her fame also endangered the person she prized most: her similarly sized sister, Minnie, a gentle soul unable to escape the glare of Vinnie’s spotlight. A barnstorming novel of the Gilded Age, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is the irresistible epic of a heroine who conquered the country with a heart as big as her dreams—and whose story will surely win over yours. Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more. BONUS: This edition contains a timeline, an interview with Melanie Benjamin, and an excerpt from Melanie Benjamin's Alice I Have Been.

A tiny boy has adventures in a cow's mouth, a fish's belly, and the stomach of a giant.

Tiny Tom Thumb is no larger than his father's thumb and he's always getting into trouble.

First class fiction at an appropriate interest level, the books in TreeTops More All Stars Pack 2A provide: BLQuality books by top authors and illustrators to challenge and motivate your children BLThe right level of content, at an appropriate interest level for Year 1 children BLCareful text levelling to gradually build stamina Also available are flexible Teaching Notes (ISBN 0-19-919608-7) to provide support for much more than guided reading. The other titles in TreeTops More All Stars Pack 2A are: Badcats, Cleaner Genie, Beastly Basil, Town Dog, and Nelly the Monster-Sitter. They are available in a Pack of six (ISBN 0-19-919601-X) and a Class Pack (ISBN 0-19-919600-1), containing 6 of each title.