The Brave Little Tailor

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s energetic but playful, with lots of ‘clever win’ moments rather than true danger. Great for kids who enjoy humor and problem-solving, and it ends with a satisfying success.

Story Synopsis

A tailor is minding his work when flies pester him. With one quick swat he kills seven at once. Proud, he stitches a belt that reads, “Seven at one blow!” and heads out into the world, imagining he might be destined for something bigger. People who see the belt misread it as a sign of fearsome strength, and the tailor doesn’t correct them. His reputation grows. Soon he meets a giant, then another, and again and again he faces challenges meant to test ‘the mighty man.’ But the tailor’s power isn’t muscles—it’s quick thinking. When giants boast, he tricks them with demonstrations that look impressive but are harmless: squeezing cheese so it seems like he’s crushing stones, throwing a bird so it looks like he’s tossing a rock, and other clever illusions. Over and over, the giants are fooled. News reaches a king who wants the tailor’s help with impossible tasks. The tailor accepts and uses strategy to survive: he turns enemies against themselves and finds ways to avoid direct battle. Each victory makes him seem even braver. In the end, the king rewards him with a place in the kingdom and marriage into the royal family. The tailor’s story is a comic reminder that courage can be clever—and that sometimes confidence, used wisely, changes what others believe you can do.

Story Excerpt

One bright summer morning, a little tailor sat on his worktable by the window, sewing with quick, happy stitches. His needle flashed in and out of the cloth, and he hummed softly to himself. Down in the street a peasant woman walked by with a heavy basket and a loud, cheerful call. “Good jams, cheap! Good jams, cheap!” The sound pleased the tailor. He leaned out with his small, neat head and called, “Come up here, dear woman. You’ll sell your goods quickly with me.” The woman climbed the three steps and set down her basket with a thump. The tailor had her unpack every pot. He lifted each one, sniffed it carefully, and nodded as if he were a very important judge of jam. “At last,” he said, “this seems good. Weigh me out four ounces, dear woman—and if it’s a little more, that’s no trouble.” The woman, who had hoped to sell much more than that, measured out what he asked for. She went away grumbling, her basket still heavy. “Now,” said the tailor, rubbing his hands, “may this jam be a blessing to me and give me health and strength.” He took down a loaf, cut himself a thick slice, and spread it generously with jam. Then he set it beside him. “This will taste sweet,” he said, “but first I’ll finish this jacket.” So he sewed on, and because he felt so pleased with himself, his stitches grew bigger and bolder. The warm smell of jam drifted up to the wall where many flies were resting. One by one, then in a crowd, they swooped down to the bread. “Hola! Who invited you?” the tailor cried. He waved his hand to shoo them away. But the flies did not understand his words, and they came right back—more and more of them. At last the tailor’s patience snapped. He grabbed a scrap of cloth from under his table. “Wait,” he said, “and I will give it to you!” With one quick swat he struck the cloth down over the buzzing cluster. Then he lifted it and stared. There lay seven flies, very still, their tiny legs stretched out.

In One Glance