Foolish Jack and the Bean Stack

by Laurence Anholt, Arthur Robins (Illustrator)

In this humorous version of "Jack and the Beanstalk," Jack trades in the family cow for a can of beans.

Genres: Childrens, Retellings, Fairy Tales

64 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

In a career spanning three decades, Laurence Anholt has produced over 200 children's books, which are published in more than 30 languages. Titles like the self-illustrated Anholt's Artists series have sold many millions of copies around the world. Laurence has also collaborated on numerous picture books with his wife, the artist, Catherine Anholt.

Laurence's first YA / Crossover novel THE HYPNOTIST was published by Penguin Random House on 6th October 2016.

The Hypnotist was described by The Bookseller as 'gripping, powerful storytelling with a powerful anti-racist message.' The book has been officially endorsed by Amnesty International, it was the winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award, shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award and four major book awards. It is currently longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2018.

Born in 1959, Laurence Anholt was brought up mainly in Holland where he developed a lasting love of Art. He went on to study Painting for 8 years, culminating in a Master's Degree from the Royal Academy of Art in London. Catherine and Laurence live and work in a house on a hill with studios and wild flower meadows, overlooking the sea in Devon, southwest England.

Laurence's books have won many awards, including the UK's prestigious Nestlé Smarties Gold Award on two occasions. For more than a decade, Laurence has been amongst the top 200 Most Borrowed Authors from UK libraries across all genres. He was included in the Independent on Sunday's Top 10 Children's Authors in the UK and was described by William Watt as "one of the most versatile authors writing for children today".

Catherine and Laurence have been closely involved with a number of literacy schemes such as the UK Government funded Bookstart scheme. Their publication Babies Love Books (also a much-loved picture book) encourages parents to share books with babies from the earliest possible age. Their work has taken them inside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on several occasions.

Laurence's self‐illustrated Anholt's Artists series, is an introduction to great artists for young children. These beautiful books are used as part of the national school curriculum in many countries and are sold in galleries and museums all over the world. The books, which include Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Camille and the Sunflowers, Degas and the Little Dancer and The Magical Garden of Claude Monet have taken Laurence on many fascinating journeys of discovery. Each scrupulously researched story is based on an actual encounter between a real child and a great artist. In several instances, Laurence has been assisted by relatives of the artists or by the protagonists themselves - for example, Laurence developed a long-standing friendship with Sylvette David, Picasso's Girl With a Ponytail. This series currently includes 10 titles and it has been adapted in many forms, including Apps for iPads, stage and TV productions and a full scale van Gogh musical which Laurence launched in Korea. The Anholt's Artists books are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their life-affirming themes of aspiration, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.

Laurence Anholt is a much sought after public speaker, talking about literature and his own zany view of life at conferences all over the world.

The Anholts have three grown up children, Claire and twins, Tom and Maddy. Claire is an anthropologist who works for the UN in Geneva, Maddy is an actor living in London and Tom is a successful artist based in Berlin. They also have twin grandchildren, Felix and Nina.

Laurence Anholt's interests include art, literature, adventure travel and Buddhist meditation.

For further information visit the Anholts' website: http://www.anholt.co.uk

Reviews

[Mairéad · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 A short, illustrated novel for children aged 7+ that offers a fun alternative version of the well known story of Jack and the Beanstalk. With lots of illustrations and a repetitive but humorous story this is sure to be a hit with emerging readers who want to tackle longer stories but still need some support/scaffolding when reading.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A revisionist Jack and the Beanstalk with an ending that'll have you saying Finally! About time they did something completely different! Silly Jack and his mom are two impoverished people living underneath their beloved Cow and made to eat nothing but milk and/or stuff made with milk, basically milk on milk. (Even the milquetoast is MILK TOAST.) It does their bodies good..... Good and tired, so Jack has to sell his cow for a can of baked beans, not much but a good chance of pace from a lifetime of milk. Then by miracle, Jack sees a label on one can claiming untold riches if he decides to accept a lifetime supply of canned beans. So, in spite of the disappointment in his mom, he gets thru the mail a huge stack of such cans, going up to the sky like a tall building. (Or could we rename it a CAN-dominium?) When Jack is made to climb the stacks to the top, he meets the infamous Giant, who fee-fi-fo-fums about the hurt in his Tum! (Give the poor big guy his Tums! And make sure the suckers are HUGE!) The giant has a huge TV and huge cooking utensils and even a microwave oven which ain't THAT micro! But he's too sad to enjoy them, because he eats little children and is too tired and sad to eat them anymore. (Cos once you swallow a child it's taking an innocent life. So no wonder the giant is sad.) But the Giant is addicted: his drug of choice is....DNA! And he's about to have Jack for...a JACK SNACK! But Jack is quick witted, and saves the giant by convincing him that there are other things to eat other than human beans. Like say...pork and beans? Thus a friendship is forged in a storytelling coup the Grimm Bros never saw comin! Laurence Arnholt redeems the stereotypical mean giant and the Beanstalk story in a big way! And best part of all: NO GOLD HARP!!! How cool is THAT?
Four stars
This story has BEAN GOOD TO ME! How about you?

[Emma Regan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is it for kids because I have no idea

[Jack O · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the bean stack. - Jack, age 9

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little twist on a classic with several examples of play on words

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[Angela Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and the Bean Stack is a fun book to read. Jack once gets some beans but throws them outside of his window. next morning he finds out that it has grown to the sky. he climbs up and see gold and food he can take. He steals many things and later is caught by a giant... This tells us to not be selfish and not to take things from other people.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this is the best book of asaeriously Silly Stories. At least as far as I read.

[J-boogie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think this book is really funny & i can get quite a bit of laughter out of it

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note it's the bean STACK not STALK.

[Prashansa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool!!!!!!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed my socks off - can't wait for grandchild to be old enough to enjoy this book. Loved it.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun take on the classic fairy tale, but not the best I've read. Kids enjoyed it and they enjoyed saying "eeuw" when the giant fell in love (and vice versa)with Jack's mom.

[Relu Dascalescu]

tgtft