A lion no weapon can wound, a serpent with nine heads, a giant boar, and a king hiding inside a bronze jar. In his first six labors, Hercules discovers that strength alone is not enough — he will need patience and cleverness too.

The youngest of seven brothers is no bigger than a thumb, yet he notices everything. When the boys find themselves lost in the dark forest, it is his quiet cleverness that shows the way home.

Hidden in the Ogre's house, Little Thumb needs all his quiet cleverness to keep his brothers safe through the night and find the way back to their family.

As his only inheritance, the miller's youngest son receives a cat. But this cat is full of ideas — and with a bag, a pair of boots and a quick tongue, he will introduce the King to the Marquis of Carabas.