The Old Tobacco Shop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
Original cover
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| Author | William Bowen |
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| Original title | The Old Tobacco Shop: A True Account Of What Befell A Little Boy In Search Of Adventure |
| Illustrator | Reginald Birch |
| Genre | Children's Fantasy |
| Publisher | MacMillan |
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Publication date
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1921 |
| Pages | 236 |
| ISBN | 9789997488671 |
| OCLC | 573218 |
The Old Tobacco Shop: A True Account of What Befell a Little Boy in Search of Adventure is an exciting children's fantasy novel. It was written by William Bowen and came out in 1921. This book was so good that it was named a Newbery Honor book, which is a big award for children's literature. The famous artist Reginald Birch created the pictures for the story.
Contents
Story of The Old Tobacco Shop
This fantasy book tells the tale of a young boy named Freddie. He is five years old and loves adventure.
Freddie's Magical Discovery
Freddie meets some interesting people near a tobacco shop. There's Mr. Toby Littleback, who owns the shop. He also meets Toby's Aunt Amanda and a man named Mr. Punch. Mr. Punch is a hunchbacked man who often sits outside the shop.
Mr. Toby Littleback gives Freddie a special warning. He tells Freddie never to touch a jar shaped like a Chinese man's head. This jar is filled with what Toby calls "magic tobacco."
An Unforgettable Adventure Begins
Freddie is a curious boy and can't resist the warning. He touches the magic tobacco. After this, something amazing happens. Freddie and his friends find themselves on a ship called The Sieve. It's a leaky ship sailing on the Spanish Main, a famous area for pirates.
Their adventure quickly gets exciting. First, pirates capture them. But Freddie and his friends are clever. They manage to escape and even take some pirate treasure with them!
Later in their journey, they meet a kind Persian rug merchant. This merchant has a special gift. He gives each of them something they truly wish for in their hearts.
Waking Up from the Dream
In the end, Freddie becomes ill. He falls into a deep sleep, almost like a coma. When he finally wakes up, he is back home. He realizes that his whole adventure was a vivid dream. It was all caused by the magic tobacco.
About the Book's Creation
The Old Tobacco Shop was brought to life with illustrations by Reginald Birch. He was a very well-known artist during that time. William Bowen, the author, even wrote a poem about Birch. This poem was published in a popular magazine called The Century.
Early Reactions to the Title
When the book was first released, its title caused some discussion. A writer named Edmund Pearson shared a story about it. He said that one bookseller thought the word "tobacco" made the book unsuitable for children. Because of this, the bookseller refused to sell it.
However, Pearson explained that the book had been checked carefully. Three children's librarians read the story before it was even published. They all agreed it was perfectly fine for young readers. Pearson assured parents that the book would not teach children anything bad. It would not encourage them to chew, smoke, or use bad language.
