The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby

Tom, a young and abused chimney-sweep, flees his cruel master and, in a feverish state, is magically transformed into a water-baby. In his new aquatic form, he explores a stream, torments its creatures, and begins to learn hard lessons about kindness and consequence. Driven by loneliness and a desire to find others like him, he journeys to the sea, where he encounters the formidable fairies Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid and Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. Under their stern tutelage, Tom's moral education truly begins, leading him to a profound quest: he must travel to the Other-end-of-Nowhere to seek out and help his former master, Grimes, in a final test of forgiveness and personal growth.