Overview
Jack and his marvelous beanstalk made their first appearance in England in 1734—and for nearly three centuries the tale has continued to enchant children. After all, what could be more reassuring to a small child than the idea that even a little boy can outwit a scary giant?John Cech retells this popular story with humor and warmth, adding plenty of entertaining detail and bringing in some less familiar elements, too. (For example, when Jack escapes for the last time, the giant’s wife comes along with him, and becomes his mother’s good friend.) And Robert Mackenzie’s art captures all the magic of the huge beanstalk and the giant’s oversized world up in the clouds.
Synopsis
Jack and his marvelous beanstalk made their first appearance in England in 1734—and for nearly three centuries the tale has continued to enchant children. After all, what could be more reassuring to a small child than the idea that even a little boy can outwit a scary giant?
John Cech retells this popular story with humor and warmth, adding plenty of entertaining detail and bringing in some less familiar elements, too. (For example, when Jack escapes for the last time, the giant’s wife comes along with him, and becomes his mother’s good friend.) And Robert Mackenzie’s art captures all the magic of the huge beanstalk and the giant’s oversized world up in the clouds.
"Because the bones of this classic tale are right, Cech’s enhancements feel right, too."— School Library Journal
Editorials
From the Publisher
"Because the bones of this classic tale are right, Cech’s enhancements feel right, too."— School Library JournalSchool Library Journal
K-Gr 3- Jack, an endearing boy with apple-red cheeks, sells his cow for a handful of beans and climbs the beanstalk. The giant's wife feeds him and hides him three times from her uncouth, ever-hungry husband ("Fee Fi Fo Fum, I smell a visitor, yum, yum, yum./Fish or fowl, cold or hot, We'll cook him up inside my pot"), and forgives him for taking the giant's possessions. Because the bones of this classic tale are right, Cech's enhancements feel right, too. The unappreciated wife takes the harp and follows Jack down the beanstalk. The giant, who is afraid of heights, bellows loudly but stays put. Jack's mother, a compassionate woman who would rather have her boy than the treasures, welcomes the giant's wife as her friend. Any noises in the clouds can be blamed on the bellowing giant, forced to live on dry crackers since his wife left. Mackenzie's watercolor illustrations are done in a folk style using a green and gold palette with touches of red. The giant, with his very small head and bleary eyes, contrasts nicely with the rosy cheerfulness of Jack and his mother. Perspective is used to advantage, showing the beanstalk disappearing in the clouds and then the insubstantial base when seen from the top. Pair this retelling with Raymond Briggs's Jim and the Beanstalk (Putnam, 1977) for an enormously satisfying storytime.-Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN