The Water-Babies

You are not to believe a word of this even if it is real as it is all a fairy tale. One of the oddest and most impactful childrens stories ever written is The Water Babies (1863). Charles Kingsley masterfully merged comedic fantasy and moral fable in his account of Toms underwater adventures. Tom is a chimney sweeps son who drowns and is then changed into a water baby. In addition to being an interesting fairy tale Toms experiences with helpful fish inquisitive lobsters and characters like Mrs. Do as you would be done by serving as a crash education in evolutionary theory. They also showcase one of the greatest Victorian eccentrics peculiar imaginations. Kingsleys digs at modern issues like child labor and the British educational system frequently interrupt Toms travels and offer a rich satiric take on the important scientific debates of the time.