Jump at the Sun: Jack and the Beanstalk - Fairy Tale Classics (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics) [Paperback]

tk (Author), John Kurtz (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics

Happily ever after has never been so happy! These inspired retellings of classic children's fairy-tales are simply told and beautifully illustrated. This is a series of books that parents will treasure and children will love hearing again and again. Jump at the Sun Fairy-tale Classics include: - Cinderella - Goldilocks and The Three Bears - Jack and the Beanstalk - Little Red Riding Hood

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Books in the new, inexpensive paperback Fairy Tale Classics series are extremely uneven, and it's no surprise that authors aren't identified. The texts are bland and generic; the art is greeting-card style with glamorized, idyllic African American characters who bat their eyelashes and smile and smile. Kids will like the brave boy who overcomes his foolishness in Jack and the Beanstalk, which blends several fairy tales together. But then there's a heavy message: "They shared their wealth with poorer people." Yes, African American kids want to find themselves and their families in traditional stories; it's certainly nice to see Jack in dreadlocks. But fairy tales are more than sweet messages and upbeat role models, and there are many excellent African American versions that offer fuller text and much better illustrations. Virginia Hamilton's The Girl Who Spun Gold (2000) is a fine West Indian version of "Rumpelstiltskin," with Leo and Diane Dillons' exquisite illustrations, bright with patterns from traditional African geometric cloths. Then there's Brian Pinkney's Thumbelina (2003), with its lovely, dark-skinned heroine; Joyce Carol Thomas' The Gospel Cinderella [BKL F 15 04]; and lots, lots more. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Jump At The Sun (September 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078680954X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786809547
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 7.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #935,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, January 1, 2008

By 

Clay McCall (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jump at the Sun: Jack and the Beanstalk - Fairy Tale Classics (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics) (Paperback)

It is quite a challenge to adapt a classic European tale for a cast of characters of African descent, and make the story relevant and even "believable" for some of our children who are living in hard-knock communities and environments. The author and illustrator of this "Jack & the Beanstalk" seem to accomplish this task by acknowledging some of the unfortunate realities that many of our kids face regularly, such as drunkenness. Designated readers of young children who deal with such issues should find this adaptation of "Jack..." to be a welcome addition to their libraries. By the way, the artwork is terrific! The variety of images of the African-descent characters are worth the purchase.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent...with a warning for parents of very young kids, July 28, 2007

By 

P. Harris (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jump at the Sun: Jack and the Beanstalk - Fairy Tale Classics (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics) (Paperback)

The JATS fairy tales are great. Be aware that they do use the word, "die" as a threat from the villians. This particular book describes Jack's mother as a "widow," a concept I have not discussed with my kids. I just skipped over that word, but a page or two later, the mother says that she is glad that foolish Jack's father is not there to see how silly he is. I accidentally read this before I knew what it was saying. I just let my kids think that Jack's dad was at work...this is what they assumed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, May 7, 2008

By 

Claudette "Claudia" (Spartanburg, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jump at the Sun: Jack and the Beanstalk - Fairy Tale Classics (Jump at the Sun Fairy-Tale Classics) (Paperback)

I think this book is great, as usual with Raisin in the Sun. I have a daughter, but think this may be better for boys. (She's at that stage). I really find it quite interesting the amount of negative feedback because of a word here or there. This is part of reality, and with the amount of violence children are being exposed to (inside and outside the home), I do not think one should trash or criticize a book because they (as a parent) rather not explain how life is not roses all of the time to their child. This is the only company I know of which puts fairy tales in an African viewpoint, and I think that is wonderful. I will not nitpick over minor things just to give negative feedback. Nothing's perfect.

The school boards are allowing books to be read in school in regards to same-sex marriages and couples, and YOUR concern is of one word/sentence in this children's book?