Jack and the Beanstalk

by Mara Alperin, Mark Chambers (Illustrator)

Jack and his mother are poor. So she tells him to sell the family cow, and he does-for five magic beans. Angry, Jack's mother throws the beans away, and they grow into a huge stalk. Jack climbs the stalk and discovers a terrible giant! How will Jack ever escape?

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Magic, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Courtney Barter]

Traditional fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. We all know the story. Jack and his mother are poor so he sets off to sell their cow. Instead of money for the cow, a man gives him magic beans. Naturally, his mother is FURIOUS and throws the beans out the window. The beanstalk grows from the magic beans and Jack heads up the beanstalk to see what he can find! Beware of the Giant!!! This book is great for early childhood. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. They're perfect for reading this story to children and keeping their attention. The words are also written in a creative way. Original Fairy Tale.

[Heidi Thelin]

TRADITIONAL LITERATURE: I really liked how Alperin adapted this tale to cater to a younger audience! The illustrations were simple and colorful and it was nice how the text highlighted repetitive phrases, keywords, and dialogue throughout the story! I think this adaptation is great for kids to follow along with!

[Beverly]

A very simplified version of the tale for young children (pre-school). Jack only gets away with a gold egg-laying hen, instead of 3 valuable objects. The colorful cartoon illustrations are large and great fun.

[Susan Kennedy]

For this tale a classic enough telling without being frightening.

[Tori Crews]

This is a beautifully re illustrated of the classic fairytale Jack in the Beanstalk. This story follows young Jack as he trades his cow for magic beans that grow into a Giant beanstalk. Jack encounters a fierce giant and a magical hen that lays golden eggs. The illustrations in this book are stunning, and vibrant colors and intricate details help bring the story to life. The text is very clear and easy for younger readers to follow. I love how this book has the ability to capture younger readers' imaginations. This story is written full of adventure and magic, and the illustrations help to transport the readers into a world of giants and golden eggs.

[Kadie Speller]

Jack comes from a very poor family and his mother asks him to go sell their cow at the market. On the way, he runs into an old man and trades his cow for five magic beans. As any mother might be, she was furious that he traded the cow for magic beans and threw the beans out the window. Through the night, the beans sprouted and the beanstalk continued to grow into the sky. Jack climbed all the way up the beanstalk and found a home of giants with a great golden hen inside. Read to find out how Jack was able to make it out of the giant's house alive and safe.

[Lil Old Bookworm]

A traditional, simpler retelling of the Jack and the beanstalk story, accompanied by charming illustrations.

[Reader]

This book is a retelling of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk. It is perfect for younger elementary school students and would work well for a unit on fairy tales!

[Nora Gregson]

So many laughs. Cannes-length applause.

[Nicole Butsch]

Jack and the Beanstalk is a fairytale about a poor boy named Jack whose mother told him to sell the family cow. Instead of selling him for something useful he trades the cow for magic beans which turns out to be much more than he bargained for. I would use this book to teach the students about making the most out of life's opportunities like when Jack sold his cow for the magic beans because the best opportunities in life come from unexpected places.