Jack and the Beanstalk [Paperback]

Paul Galdone (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A verse version of the tale first published in England in 1807.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This spirited and broadly comic version will be a welcome addition to fairy tale collections and to the picture book hour." School Library Journal

About the Author

Paul Galdone was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1907 and emigrated to the United States in 1928. After finishing his studies at the Art Student League and the New York School of Industrial Design, Mr. Galdone worked in the art department of a major publishing house. There he was introduced to the process of bookmaking, an activity that was soon to become his lifelong career. Before his death in 1986, Mr. Galdone illustrated almost three hundred books, many of which he himself wrote or retold. He is fondly remembered for his contemporary style, bright earthy humor, and action-filled illustrations, which will continue to delight for generations to come.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (April 19, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899190855
• ISBN-13: 978-0899190853
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 7.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( G ) > Galdone, Paul

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great illustrations, but not the classic story!, May 5, 2006

By 

A. Elias (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jack and the Beanstalk (Paperback)

Paul Galdone usually does a wonderful job retelling and illustrating fairy tales. Here the illustrations are up to his usual level, but he's changed the story: Jack and his mother are not on the verge of starvation, and once Jack climbs up the beanstalk and the giant falls asleep, Jack simply chops off his head. End of story -- no bags of gold, no sneaking back again, and no climatic chase back down the beanstalk yelling "Mother! Bring the axe!"

Furthermore, the story's been written in verse: "As Old Mother Twaddle was sweeping her floor, She found a new sixpence under the door. And as she surveyed it with exquisite pleasure, she called her son Jack to look at her treasure" is how it begins. Furthermore,some of the vocabulary is fairly esoteric: "I will comb thee and wash thee, and make thee quite spruce" or "Jack bought it for sixpence, then went to his mother, who at the sight of the bean made a terrible pother." Teachers of children who are learning English, beware!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Typical Tale, March 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Jack and the Beanstalk (Paperback)

The illustrations for the version of Jack and the Beanstalk are wonderful, however, the text is from a 1807 version and is difficult to read easily. This is compounded by the fact that it is in rhyme so some of the words/grammer are really strange to keep the rhyme pattern.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Way too grim for kids!, September 28, 2009

By 

C. Montana (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jack and the Beanstalk (Paperback)

I took my grandkids (4yrs and 2 1/2yrs) to a children's theater to see the play with the promise of a trip to the bookstore to find the book if they behaved during the performance. There was no need for the bribe, they were so happy and engaged it was wonderful! We were so excited to hurry to the bookstore before it closed and we bought the only copy in the store. We hurried home to read it and YIKES! I'm so happy they can't read!!... ' be he alive or dead I'll grind his bones to make my bread!...drink some strong wine, tumbled down flat... Jack snached a large knife, chopped off his head, killed this great man'. I was quickly making up a kid friendly version and returned the book today!
Grammie did learn a good lesson however: no matter how rushed, I will ALWAYS skim through the story before purchasing - no matter how familiar I am with the tale.