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Jack and the Beanstalk
The classic story retold by Stella Williams Nathan and illustrated by Dora Leder.
Hardcover
First published March 29, 1966
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 12, 2019
I actually quite liked this shortened version of the story. I think it was quite well done and kept most of the important parts of the original tale.
October 30, 2020
Sooooooo many questions about the plot here. I wonder how it compares with other versions of the story.
April 26, 2021
This is a classic version of his fairy tale.
August 4, 2024
This retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk was quite different from others I've encountered, so I had to go and do a bit of research and discovered that its source must be different than the tale I'm familiar with.
As an adult, I've always been troubled by the story of Jack stealing from the giant and later killing him yet being hailed as a hero (as a child, I don't think I noticed this as an issue - I guess I assumed the giant was wicked so anything done to him was fair play).
As it transpires, I must be most familiar with the version of the tale told by Joseph Jacobs in English Fairy Tales (1890). It's apparently the version most commonly reprinted today, and is believed to be closer to the oral versions. However, there was a version published in 1807 by Benjamin Tabart (a 'moralised' version)(also the version used by Andrew Lang in his Red Fairy Book of 1890) that explains Jack's thefts as taking back what is rightfully his and the murder as retribution. In that version, the giant had robbed and murdered Jack's father, leaving Jack and his mother in poverty.
That is this version of the story. Jack sells the cow for beans, and goes up the magic beanstalk, but at the top an old woman tells him the wicked giant stole his father's fortune. His mother reiterates this with every treasure he returns with - "You have brought back your father's hen, his harp, and his gold." And the two of them can sit happily and eat pie (with the giant's dead body off screen).
I always wonder what happened to the giant's wife. She was kind to Jack. Maybe she is glad her wicked husband is gone and lives happily ever after in the clouds?
The only other thing of note for this story was the order of the thefts - usually the harp is last, so it can scream theft to its master, but in this version the harp is silent. The sack of gold is last and the giant was only pretending to be asleep.
As an adult, I've always been troubled by the story of Jack stealing from the giant and later killing him yet being hailed as a hero (as a child, I don't think I noticed this as an issue - I guess I assumed the giant was wicked so anything done to him was fair play).
As it transpires, I must be most familiar with the version of the tale told by Joseph Jacobs in English Fairy Tales (1890). It's apparently the version most commonly reprinted today, and is believed to be closer to the oral versions. However, there was a version published in 1807 by Benjamin Tabart (a 'moralised' version)(also the version used by Andrew Lang in his Red Fairy Book of 1890) that explains Jack's thefts as taking back what is rightfully his and the murder as retribution. In that version, the giant had robbed and murdered Jack's father, leaving Jack and his mother in poverty.
That is this version of the story. Jack sells the cow for beans, and goes up the magic beanstalk, but at the top an old woman tells him the wicked giant stole his father's fortune. His mother reiterates this with every treasure he returns with - "You have brought back your father's hen, his harp, and his gold." And the two of them can sit happily and eat pie (with the giant's dead body off screen).
I always wonder what happened to the giant's wife. She was kind to Jack. Maybe she is glad her wicked husband is gone and lives happily ever after in the clouds?
The only other thing of note for this story was the order of the thefts - usually the harp is last, so it can scream theft to its master, but in this version the harp is silent. The sack of gold is last and the giant was only pretending to be asleep.
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October 15, 2014This traditional tale is about a young boy named Jack that trades his mother's cow for some beans. He was told that the beans were magic, so he plants them in his yard. In the morning the beans grew into a huge beanstalk and of course Jack climbs it to see where it leads. The beanstalk leads to a giant's house who eats little boys. Jack then finds the golden harp and goose that his father once had. Jack then saves the items and brings them back to his mother.
I would use this in my classroom to teach traditional literature to my students. I can ask them what they think the message or theme of the story might be. This story can also teach them something about what old books were about.
I would use this in my classroom to teach traditional literature to my students. I can ask them what they think the message or theme of the story might be. This story can also teach them something about what old books were about.
May 21, 2016
I did not care for this book. But I have a hard time with books that may be scary for little ones, dislike of others, and very far-fetched.
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October 1, 2016Classic story of jack and the beanstalk. This is a great book for kids to read along with.
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October 17, 2017“Jack and the Beanstalk” by Stella Williams Nathan and published by Western Pub. Co (1990)
1. Awards received: None
2. Appropriate Age Level: Kindergarten to second grade
3. Summary: Jack was told to take his families cow to town and trade it so they could finally have food but instead he trades it for magic beans. His mother thinks he was foolish and threw the beans out the window but when Jack wakes up the next morning, there is a beanstalk grown so big, it reaches the sky. Jack climbs it and learns for a giant who stole his fathers wealth before and makes it his mission to get back all of his fathers items. When the giant tries to attack him, Jack used an ax to cut the beanstalk as the giant climbed down, which kills the giant.
4. I thought this was a cute book to read aloud to Kindergarteners. It is exciting and always has interesting moments whether it is finding a golden goose or Jack’s quick thinking when the giant came after him. I thought the illustrations were just bright enough and clear to give to students in 2nd grade to read or at least visualize the plot.
5. Use in the classroom
a. Students can dress up as the different characters and reenact
b. Vocabulary might be different for some students so explaining key vocabulary like: trade, beanstalk, harp etc
c. Students could build a beanstalk with long or short vowel hunts in the book
1. Awards received: None
2. Appropriate Age Level: Kindergarten to second grade
3. Summary: Jack was told to take his families cow to town and trade it so they could finally have food but instead he trades it for magic beans. His mother thinks he was foolish and threw the beans out the window but when Jack wakes up the next morning, there is a beanstalk grown so big, it reaches the sky. Jack climbs it and learns for a giant who stole his fathers wealth before and makes it his mission to get back all of his fathers items. When the giant tries to attack him, Jack used an ax to cut the beanstalk as the giant climbed down, which kills the giant.
4. I thought this was a cute book to read aloud to Kindergarteners. It is exciting and always has interesting moments whether it is finding a golden goose or Jack’s quick thinking when the giant came after him. I thought the illustrations were just bright enough and clear to give to students in 2nd grade to read or at least visualize the plot.
5. Use in the classroom
a. Students can dress up as the different characters and reenact
b. Vocabulary might be different for some students so explaining key vocabulary like: trade, beanstalk, harp etc
c. Students could build a beanstalk with long or short vowel hunts in the book
Read
July 18, 2018GB 37
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews