Customer Reviews

Kate and the Beanstalk

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

... and her name is Kate. This terrific new spin on the old "Jack and the Beanstalk" story is fresh and exciting. While the old version was fun, I always felt a little uncomfortable rooting for a protagonist who was a sneaky, shiftless thief. "Kate" retains the adventure of the old story with a twist -- instead of committing larceny, our heroine is retrieving stolen property from the giant who swiped them from a poor, starving widow. Best of all, the illustrations are gorgeous, and evocative of the best folk art. Boys and girls alike will welcome the spunky Kate into their pantheon of fairy tale favorites.

It's not quite the same old Jack and the Beanstalk". Oh the basic story is still the same, but instead of lazy "Jack", our heroine is smart, resourceful Kate.

I did like Mary Pope Osborne's retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, but it's Giselle Potter's vibrant illustrations that really make my beans grow. And it is nice to see a smart girl be the "hero" for a change.

This book is a favorite in our household and both my daughter and my son love it. The story is retold in such a way that it actually "makes sense." It is exciting--but never overly scary. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. They remind me of Modigliani in their simplicity and grace. If you think all children's books should be illustrated in the "Disney-style" then you may not like this one, but I found the style both unusual and lovely. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with children aged 4-10.

What a GREAT story for a girl! Kate, unlike Jack, is a brave girl out to right the wrong done by the giant. Unlike the original version, Kate is taking back what the giant stole and returning it to its rightful owner. A great role model and a positive message that girls can be brave and fabulous!

I am writing mainly to disagree with the reviewer who thought that the "resourceful girl" aspect of the story is a bit forced. I disagree totally! This is a very graceful adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk, and the ending is much more satisfying to me than the ending of the traditional story. It does not read like a feminist diatribe but like a delightful fairy-tale.

I agree that "fee-fi-fo-fum'un" is a stretch, but I see this as funny rather than forced. So does my daughter. Moreover, I expect that the author intended it to be funny.

My daughter loves the Steven Kellogg version of Jack & the Beanstalk, and I agree with her. It is one of our most-often-read titles. But after reading Kate and the Beanstalk, she says she likes it better.

Here's a new twist on the famous Jack and the Beanstalk story. Remember lazy Jack, that boy who always looked for the easy way out. Well in this story our hero is a heroine and she is anything by lazy. She is brave, courageous and bold. She is smart, witty and resourceful and willing to lend a helping hand to an old woman in trouble. And that's what she finds when she gets to the top of the beatstalk, an old woman who seeks Kate's help in saving the widow and child of a knight.

And yes, before you ask, there is a greedy giant in this book. And yes he utters that famous phrase, only he changes it a bit, "Fee, Fi, Fo Fum'un, I Smell the blood of an Englishwoman." Giselle Potter's illustrations are top notch in this new spinning of an old tale. I often read this one and the original to my son back to back. Just a dandy book for children, this book is.

Mom gives her daughter, Kate, their only cow to sell at market for food before they starve. Daughter exchanges cow for magic beans and the mother is furious. She throws them out the window and that night a huge beanstalk has grown up to the clouds. Kate climbs up stalk, takes on an adventure, disguises herself to complete her mission successfully and winds up avenging her fathers death. Heroine story good for young girls. Illustrations are decent but all characters have the same face. I liked the idea of the book and love the front cover but the book left me wanting more.

Mary Pope Osborne has taken the old Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale and given it a nice new twist. The basic story is still in place. But, instead of lazy Jack, trading his cow for magic beans and then stealing riches from the giant, Ms Osborne gives us Kate, a resourceful, kind and determined young lady who outsmarts that horrible, cruel giant so that she can return his riches to their rightful owner. This wonderful text is complimented by award winning illustrator, Giselle Potter's expressive and creative artwork and youngsters will be entranced as they hear this old familiar story told with a new heroine and surprise, happy-ever-after ending.

I bought this book for my daughter's 4th birthday. Her name is Kate so it was a must! She loves the story... it is very clever and a nice spin on the old classic. We will enjoy this book for many years!

This book has lovely illustrations, and the story is a lot of fun. My son loves it too- not just for girls!