The Story of Tommy Tucker

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s warm and encouraging, with a slow, steady pace. Great for bedtime because it rewards kindness and ends with comfort rather than suspense.

Story Synopsis

Tommy Tucker is a small boy with a big hope: he wants to earn his supper instead of begging for it. With his little fiddle in hand, he walks along the road, listening for places where his music might be welcome. Along the way, Tommy meets ordinary people with ordinary problems—tired workers, busy households, small communities. He offers what he has: a tune to brighten a room, a hand to help, a cheerful attitude that makes chores feel lighter. Not everyone notices him at first. Sometimes he feels small, hungry, and unsure. But Tommy keeps going, learning that courage is often quiet: it’s the choice to try again even when you’re tired. By the end, Tommy’s music opens doors. He is invited in, fed, and treated with kindness—not because he demanded it, but because he offered something good to the world. The story leaves a gentle bedtime message: when you share what you can, people often share back.

Story Excerpt

Little Tommy Tucker was a small boy who lived on the streets. He did not remember a mother or father to tuck him in. So Tommy learned to take care of himself. At night he slept wherever he could — sometimes in a big old barrel, sometimes in a cellar, and sometimes, if he had a penny, on a little cot in a crowded room. In the daytime he tried to earn a bite to eat by doing tiny jobs. But it was not always easy. One morning, Tommy climbed out of a wooden box where he had slept. His tummy felt empty. “ All I had last time was a hard crust, ” he thought. “ And today I have had nothing at all. ” He walked and looked for work. He asked here and there. But no one had anything for him to do. By noon, Tommy was so hungry that he stood a long time in front of a bake - shop window. Behind the glass were buns and loaves, warm and nice. Tommy pressed close and stared. “ Oh, if I only had a little coin, ” he whispered, “ just enough for a bun. ” Tommy had been hungry before, so he did not give up. He sat on a curb -…

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