The Thief and the Beanstalk: A Further Tales Adventure (Further Tales Adventures) [Paperback]

P. W. Catanese (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2005 | Series: Further Tales Adventures

Everyone knows the story of Jack and the beanstalk. Everyone also knows that Jack's little adventure made him a very rich man. But what they don't know is what happened a long time after Jack....

That's where Nick comes in. Orphaned and desperate, Nick joins a rugged band of thieves in hopes of a warm meal and a little protection. In exchange Nick must help them break into the lavish white castle rumored to belong to an old man named Jack. Legend says it's full of riches from Jack's quest up a magical beanstalk decades ago.

When Nick's dangerous mission leads him straight to Jack, he sees a chance to climb the famed beanstalk himself. But what Nick doesn't know is that things are different from when Jack made his climb. There are new foes at the top now. Ones with cruel weapons and foul plans -- plans that could destroy the world as Nick knows it. Will Nick come down the beanstalk a hero? Will he come down at all?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-A fast-paced, accessible entry in the burgeoning genre of novels based on fairy tales. Homeless and hungry since a plague killed his family years ago, Nick has spent most of his life stealing food and sleeping in barns. His fortunes change when he joins a gang of ruffians in their attempt to rob an elderly, wealthy man named Jack. Jack shows Nick his magic hen and enchanted harp, then allows the boy to steal three green, glowing beans. When Nick plants them and climbs the resulting beanstalk, he finds immense treasure-and also the kind giantess who helped Jack escape her evil husband long ago. Nick learns that her equally evil sons have enslaved her as part of their plot to invade Nick and Jack's world. After struggling with his conscience, he frees her instead of taking his chance to steal the treasure and escapes the wicked giants. While this adventure favors plot over characterization and never explains the evil magic at work in the giants' world, it is clearly written and exciting. It will appeal to reluctant readers with its highly visual descriptions and will also make a successful read-aloud.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT
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About the Author

P. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency.

Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; Original edition (April 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689871732
• ISBN-13: 978-0689871733
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hello and welcome. If you aren't familiar with my novels, here's the general idea: I take a classic fairy tale and tell you what happens many years later, using the loose threads of the original story to weave a new adventure (a fast-paced, action-packed, sometimes scary adventure, to be more specific). Sometimes the characters from the original tales show up in supporting roles. In "The Thief and the Beanstalk," for example, you'll meet Jack, but he's an old man. The hero is a young thief named Nick who crosses Jack's path. This is a fun premise for stories, because the themes of the old stories echo in the new adventures, and I can look at the classic tale in a new and sometimes unexpected way.

As for me, I was born in New York, lived near Boston for a few years, then moved to Connecticut when I was seven. I live in a small town in the same state today, with my wife and three children. These days, when I'm not writing books, I work for an advertising agency.

Here's a funny little coincidence: The letters in "P.W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "Want escape?" And that's why people read books like these, isn't it?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fifth Grader Class LOVES The Thief..., June 8, 2005

By 

Stacy "Stacy" (Medford, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thief and the Beanstalk: A Further Tales Adventure (Further Tales Adventures) (Paperback)

I was asked to review a book for a book fair at school and handed the Thief and the Beanstalk. I kind of groaned when I looked at the length of it, but I needed a read aloud for my fifth grade class in May, so I figured go for it. I am so glad I did. Every day I would read the adventures of Nick and Jack and all the other characters and my kids LOVED it. When I would stop at the end of the chapter, groans could be heard. I was even asked by students in another class if they could come and listen to me read during sustained silent reading time! Now my students are great readers and tough on books, but they LOVED this book right from the get go. And so did I. Not only did they then buy every copy of the book at the book fair, their writing also became better. By listening to the words of P.W. Cantanese, I saw their writing improve by great use of vocabulary and imagery. If you're looking for book to read to your fourth-sixth graders at night time this summer or one for them to read on their own, check out this book. You'll be glad you did.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story for kids, some creepy stuff though, December 16, 2005

By 

Heather A. Rhoades "hannamyluv" (Bedford, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Thief and the Beanstalk: A Further Tales Adventure (Further Tales Adventures) (Paperback)

We read this for my son's school book club (he is in 4th grade) and for the most part everyone in the club enjoyed it. Many of the parents commented that a few of the scenes were a bit grotesque, mainly the parts about the spiders that had baby heads, but on the same note, all the kids thought those same parts were pretty cool.

The story is pretty predictable for an adult but to a child who is not yet familier with typical storylines, the book has plenty of suspense. While the book's main character is a boy, this book was recommened to the club by a girl in the class who had read it several times and had listed it as one of her all time favorite books so it appears that this book is entertaining for both boys and girls.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best book I've read in a long time!, May 3, 2005

By 

Nancy E. Wimer (Bolton, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Thief and the Beanstalk: A Further Tales Adventure (Further Tales Adventures) (Paperback)

I bought this book for my kids, but I could not put it down!!!