4 h 7 minAudiobook4 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 4 h 7 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
What chance does a tiny fairy have against a giant? More than the giant thinks.
In Frank R. Stockton’s Ting-a-ling, a tiny, bold fairy faces a world of huge creatures and awkward dangers. The giants have strength, but Ting-a-ling has a quick mind. Around him gather proud, playful fairies and odd companions. When trouble comes, getting himself and his friends out safely calls for clever plans rather than swords.
This collection of fairy tales explores the pleasures of outwitting a stronger enemy and the duties of friendship. Magic has rules, and being small is a problem the fairies must think their way around. Meanwhile, a friendly narrator treats strange events with a straight face, sharing a quiet joke with readers as the adventures unfold.
What you’ll discover
- A tiny, bold hero Meet Ting-a-ling, whose courage and quick thinking matter far more than his size.
- Giants with blind spots Watch huge, strong creatures struggle to notice when small fairies are outwitting them.
- Plans instead of swords Follow playful schemes that make cleverness the fairies’ best weapon against danger.
- Friends who stand together Discover companions whose adventures keep returning to loyalty and what they owe one another.
- A storyteller’s quiet wink Enjoy a narrator who shares the joke without spoiling the fairy-tale spell.
Who will love it
For readers who love playful fairy tales, gentle humor and clever small heroes, and anyone who likes to read aloud to children.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A tiny fairy in a world of giants
- Cleverness is the fairies' best weapon
- Friendship and loyalty hold the group together
- A storyteller who winks at the reader
Who’s who
- Ting-a-lingA tiny, quick fairy who uses cleverness and courage to get himself and his friends out of danger.
- The fairiesTing-a-ling's companions, small magical folk who are proud and playful and who help one another through trouble.
- The giantsHuge, strong creatures who threaten the fairies but are often slow to see when they are being outwitted.
- The narratorA friendly, humorous storyteller who comments on events and shares the joke with the reader.
Formats and delivery
- eBook
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- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, from the first page.
- Audiobook
- 4 h 7 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 4 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
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Ting-a-ling
by Frank R. Stockton · 1870
A tiny fairy faces towering giants with quick wits and loyal friends to get him out of danger.
Medium level2–5 hours to read25 languages
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In short
Ting-a-ling is a book of fairy tales by Frank R. Stockton, the American writer who later became widely read for his humorous short stories.
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A tiny fairy in a world of giants
The book starts from a simple contrast. Ting-a-ling is very small, and the giants are huge, strong and not especially wise. Stockton uses that gap to drive his stories. Whenever a problem comes up, brute force is on one side and quick wits are on the other.
The fairies in these tales are not solemn spirits. They are busy, proud and often mischievous, and they have magic they can use to dodge danger or to play tricks. Stockton treats this magic with a light hand. It helps the plot along, but it does not solve everything for them.
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What is Ting-a-ling about?
It is a book of fairy tales about a small, clever fairy named Ting-a-ling and his companions, who face giants and other troubles. The stories rely on wit, friendship and gentle humor more than on fighting.
Who wrote Ting-a-ling and when?
Frank R. Stockton wrote it. It appeared in 1870, early in his career, when he was writing fairy tales for young readers before he became better known for his humorous short fiction.
Is Ting-a-ling a children's book?
Yes, it was written with young readers in mind, and it works well read aloud. Its dry humor and playful narrator also give adults something to enjoy.
The author
Frank R. Stockton
1834–1902 · American novelist and humorist
Frank R. Stockton was an American writer born in Philadelphia in 1834. He wrote novels, short stories, and books for children. Ting-a-Ling appeared in 1870, and John Gayther’s Garden and the Stories Told Therein appeared in 1902. He lived in New Jersey and West Virginia. He died in 1902.
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