The Little Man by Erich Kästne. Short summary

5 seconds

They called Maxik the Little Man, because he was only 5 cm tall. But one day Maksik meets the magician Jokus von Pokus, with whom they put on a circus act that made the boy famous.

1 minute

Orphan Max Pichelsteiner, or simply Maxik, was called Little Man. He was only 5 cm tall and slept in a matchbox. The little man was often hurt, taking advantage of his defencelessness: once three girls put him in an inkpot, and another time the boys threw him onto a curtain rod. Maksik really wanted to become an artist, but his biggest dream was to become «normal» like all the other boys.

One day a chance brought him to Mr. Grozovetter’s circus and made him a partner of the great magician Jokus von Pokus. A joint number turned Jokus and Maksik into real stars and one day the kid woke up famous.

There would be different adventures and trials in his life: prestigious invitations to shoot in Hollywood, invitations and luxurious gifts from the royal family, there would also be the very real bandit kidnapping. But Maxik will withstand all the trials and remain a faithful and reliable friend even in the most critical situations.