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Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

Quick Answer

A quick nursery rhyme about Tom, who steals a pig and runs away—then is caught and punished. It’s a short ‘warning rhyme’ with a mischievous beat.

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Best as a very short rhyme for older preschoolers when read lightly. You can soften the ending by focusing on the idea: taking things that aren’t ours leads to consequences.

Story at a Glance

RECOMMENDED AGES

2-6 years

READING TIME

1 min

THEMES
consequencesconsequenceseasy to understandeasy to understandclassic taleclassic tale
Also available inEspañol

Story Synopsis

“Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son” is a traditional rhyme with a tiny, fast story. Tom steals a pig, runs away, and the rhyme ends with him being caught and punished. It’s often used as a quick reminder about honesty and not taking what belongs to someone else. At bedtime, it works best read in a gentle tone, followed by a calm sentence like, “In our home, we ask before we take.”

Story Excerpt

Tom, Tom, the piper's son, Stole a pig, and away he run, The pig was eat, And Tom was beat, And Tom ran crying down the street.

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In One Glance

This short nursery rhyme tells of Tom, who steals a pig and tries to run away, but is caught and punished. It’s a brief cautionary verse about not taking what isn’t yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

A short rhyme where Tom steals a pig, runs away, and gets caught.

Not really, but it includes ‘punishment,’ so it’s best read gently.

Ages 3–6.

Keep it light and add a reassuring line about honesty and asking first.