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Little Tom Tucker

Quick Answer

A tiny nursery rhyme about Little Tom Tucker singing for his supper and wondering how he’ll manage life’s big things without tools or help. Short, curious, and singable.

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s very short and rhythmic—easy for bedtime. You can answer the rhyme’s questions with a cozy reassurance: grown-ups help, and little ones grow.

Story at a Glance

RECOMMENDED AGES

2-7 years

READING TIME

1 min

THEMES
gentlecomfortingproblem solvingeasy to understandclassic taleclassic talegentlecomfortingproblem solvingeasy to understand
Also available inEspañol

Story Synopsis

“Little Tom Tucker” is a brief nursery rhyme. Tom sings for his supper and the rhyme asks playful questions: what will he eat, how will he cut it without a knife, and how will he be married without a wife? The lines aren’t meant to worry children—they’re a silly way of noticing that growing up takes time, tools, and support. At bedtime, this rhyme works well as a quick ‘thinking rhyme.’ After reading, you can add a gentle response: “Tonight you don’t need to solve big grown-up questions. You just need to rest.”

Story Excerpt

Little Tom Tucker sings for his supper. What shall he eat? White bread and butter. How will he cut it without e'er a knife? How will he be married without e'er a wife?

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In One Glance

“Little Tom Tucker” is a short rhyme about a boy singing for his supper and jokingly wondering how he’ll do things without a knife or a wife. It’s playful, rhythmic, and often read as a light bedtime verse that invites a reassuring follow-up about growing up slowly.

Frequently Asked Questions

A short rhyme about Tom singing for supper and asking playful ‘how will I?’ questions.

No—it's just a silly little verse.

Ages 2–7.

After the rhyme, answer softly: “You don’t have to figure everything out tonight.”