Nix Nought Nothing

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It reads like a slow, old-fashioned adventure with clear turning points. Best as a chapter story for older kids, and it invites calming talks about promises, courage, and being true to yourself.

Story Synopsis

A king and queen long for a child, and at last a baby boy is born. While the king is away, the queen decides she won’t christen the baby until his father returns. Until then, she gives him a temporary name—Nix Nought Nothing. But words have weight in fairy tales. As the boy grows, that odd name becomes more than a placeholder. It draws attention, sparks questions, and opens the door to bargains and promises that feel small at first and heavy later. Nix Nought Nothing grows into a brave, capable young man who must navigate adults’ mistakes, tricky agreements, and moments where he has to choose between fear and steady courage. Along the way, he learns that cleverness isn’t the same as cruelty, and that keeping your word matters—but so does understanding what you’re truly agreeing to. The story moves through classic folktale beats—tests, helpers, narrow escapes, and a final turning point where the hero’s character matters more than his name. It’s a satisfying, older-kid tale about identity, responsibility, and finding your own path even when the world tries to label you.

Story Excerpt

There was once a king and a queen who had been married a long time. Their castle was full of bright rooms and busy servants, but one thing was missing : they had no child to run down the halls and laugh. At last, while the king was away in far countries, a baby boy was born to the queen. She held him close and said, “ I will not christen him until his father comes home. Until then, we will just call him Nix Nought Nothing. ” Time passed. The baby grew into a sturdy little lad with clear eyes and quick feet. Still the king did not return. One day, at last, the king rode homeward. But on his road lay a great river, dark and loud, with a whirlpool turning in the middle like a giant stirring a pot. The king tried to find a safe crossing, but every path ended at the rushing water. Then a giant strode out from the riverbank. He was tall as a tower and broad as a gate. “ I’ll carry you over, ” the giant said. The king, who did not like to owe anyone, asked, “ What is your pay? ” The giant’s eyes gleamed. “ Give me Nix, Nought, Nothing, and I will carry you over the water on my back. ” The king had never heard that name in his life. To him it sounded like nothing at all — like a handful of air. “ O, I’ll give you that, ” he said, “ and my thanks into the bargain. ” So the giant lifted the king as if he…

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