Customer Reviews

Jack and the Giant: A Story Full of Beans

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Jim Harris's "Jack and the Giant: A Story Full of Beans" is a fresh and unusual twist on the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" fairytale. The twist here is that the story is a western, complete with adobe castle, people spouting slang like "hornswoggled!" and a character named Annie Okey-Dokey.

Harris has succeeded masterfully in making the story new and approachable for even young readers for whom the classic tale might be a little bit too bloody. The illustrations are an absolute hoot--colorful, detailed, and abrim with delightful asides where tiny mice, rabbits, buffalo and other animals wink and grin at each other with quips appearing in cartoon-like balloons. It's all visually reminiscent of the very best of master illustrator Wallace Tripp.

This really is a lot of fun for adults and kids alike, and rewards repeated reading with all the fun visual stuff you'll continue to notice.

Author/illustrator, Jim Harris, has created an in-your-face western retelling of the classic fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk that will have you and your children laughing out loud. Wild Bill Hiccup is the western version of the giant and a magic lasso that turns french fries into gold, a banjo that plays music on its own and a furry buffalo that leaves golden buffalo chips replaces the classic story's standards. Jim Harris' illustrations are hysterically one of a kind and keep you begging for more. Luckily for us, he is a prolific author/illustrator and he continues to recreate these delightful classics.

This atypical version of the well known fairy tale is a delight to both young and old alike. The creative storytelling carries the reader along like a tumbleweed in the wind, not knowing what twists and turns will happen next. Jack is the hero trying to save the day and the Bar None Ranch, along with his sidekick the yellow tabby cat. The clever adaptation of this old tale is refreshing and downright funny. I found myself laughing at the antics of the tabby throughout the story. My favorite character is the one who gives the giant the gold in a very original way (I won't give it away, you'll have to read it for yourself!) 'Jack and the Giant' captures the spirit of the west in its delightful illustrations. Each page holds a reader's attention while they try to take in all the action in the pictures. Jim Harris is a tremendously talented illustrator who seems to bring to life each of his characters with the ink of his pen. He truely has a gift to share with children of all ages! Anyone who loves fairy tales will enjoy 'Jack and the Giant' by Jim Harris.

This wonderful book has a great Southwest twist and the illustrations are incredible!