Juan y los frijoles mágicos / Jack and the Beanstalk [Hardcover]

Francesc Bofill (Adapter), Arnal Ballester (Author, Illustrator), Alis Alejandro (Translator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up | Series: Bilingual Fairy Tales

Striking art accompanies the favorite tale of Jack and the Beanstalk giving it a fresh look that will enchant a new generation of readers. Retold in both Spanish and English, this universally familiar story is now a springboard for inspiring early readers and older learners alike to recognize Spanish and English words. The dual-language text make this book a useful and beautiful addition to both home and classroom libraries.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While these books' juxtaposition of English and Spanish texts may fill a need, the undistinguished retellings of familiar tales may deem the titles more suited to adult admirers of Spanish artist Ballester's sophisticated, minimalist paintings. Unfortunately, the pictures lack the kind of details and humor that appeal to young readers (e.g., the sloppy visual inconsistencies in Goldilocks: in one illustration, the bears' alleged little, medium and big bowls are virtually all the same size; and the heroine's gravity-defying locks are only sometimes goldenAother times beige). The illustrations in Jack and the Beanstalk are stronger; one especially noteworthy painting shows Jack's perspective from atop the beanstalk as the fields beneath him stretch out in patches and stripes. The uninspired narratives, however, aren't likely to engage either beginning readers or a read-aloud audienceAand fairy tale fans are likely to grouse about Goldilocks breaking the chair before she eats the porridge rather than traditional tellings that reverse the acts. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?Charming illustrations are matched with a pedestrian, laundered text in this bilingual version of the familiar story. Jack trades his goat for magic beans, to the great and predictable ire of his mother, who flings the beans around with the usual results. The beanstalk grows, Jack climbs, and here the version departs from the traditional one: at the top of the beanstalk sits a little old woman who tells Jack that the giant stole his fortune from Jack's father. While this does give a motive for Jack's theft, part of the charm of the original story is the protagonist's meld of fool and rapscallion. There's no "Fee Fi Fo Fum" here, no magic harps, or golden egg-laying chickens?only a money bag. Too bad about the text, because the illustrations are charming. Ballester's style is reminiscent of that of Victoria Kahl, Wendy Watson, and Lois Lenski?rounded and clean-lined, with a pleasing sense of volume. The limited palette?gold, sepia, deep blue, burgundy, dark green, black, and white?is eye-catching. Composition, whether in full-page or small illustrations, is balanced and attractive. Certainly, the pictures and the fact that the text is well translated into Spanish could provide an impetus for purchase. However, Steven Kellogg's Jack and the Beanstalk (Morrow, 1991) or Gail Haley's variant, Jack and the Fire Dragon (Crown, 1988) have zippier story lines and are likewise stylishly illustrated. Brock Cole's The Giant's Toe (Farrar, 1986) provides an offbeat slant to the familiar story that will give children much to think about.?Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Bilingual edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811820629
• ISBN-13: 978-0811820622
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,575,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)