Jack and the Beanstalk: How a Small Fellow Solved a Big Problem (Hardcover)

~ Joy Schleh (Author), Albert Lorenz (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-All of the elements of the classic story are present: the cow, the magic beans, the hen that lays a golden egg, the harp, and, of course, the menacing giant. His castle has been intricately drawn; in an author's note, Lorenz explains how he created a scale of exacting proportions. He also has his Jack fashion clever contraptions, using the principles of simple machines, to carry his finds home. The illustrations are extraordinarily detailed and, in a number of instances, bordered with fairly elaborate designs. There is a lot going on-snakes, insects, mice, bats, and quite a few skulls, mostly human, litter the landscape. In four of approximately 12 spreads, readers are asked to find Jack. They can also find jars labeled noses, feet, and pickled eyeballs resting on shelves near a bound volume, 100 Ways to Cook Boys. Despite its numerous pluses, the narrative seems burdensomely long; the text itself stretches out in fairly labored declarative sentences without the richness of vocabulary needed to imbue such a vivid old tale. Also, the many illustrations, although colorful, are often cluttered and occasionally garish in tone.
Harriett Fargnoli, Great Neck Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 3. Lorenz offers a solid retelling of this popular fairy tale, but it is the elaborate artwork that stands out. Noting that scale is often ignored in versions of the story, Lorenz creates scenes from the perspective of the 17-foot giant. Of course, that means that Jack can't simply carry off the giant's treasures, so Lorenz shows Jack borrowing some equipment from the sewing basket of the giant's wife and creating a cart and a pulley from knitting needles, buttons, and string. The illustrations are very realistic and exceptionally well rendered: children will see the tension on the pulley as the bag of gold is lowered. Besides the inventions, there are lots of winning visual detail to enjoy: skulls hang from the ceiling alongside hams and sausages, and there are quirky illustrated borders and panels and insets. The hook also provides some interactive fun: four spreads challenge kids to find the hidden Jack. Despite the oversize format, this really isn't a book to share with a group; it is just too stuffed with things to look at. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810911604
• ISBN-13: 978-0810911604
• Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,184,353 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta have it!, April 21, 2004

By	Heather Miller "heybabyxxx3" (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

We too checked this book out of the library and then just had to buy it! The book is huge, the pictures and gorgeous and very detailed. The descriptions of just exactly how Jack manages to get that huge bag of gold, golden-egg laying hen, and magical harp out of the castle and to the beanstalk are intriguing. My six year old and two year old both love this book. They sit and read it together and then can usually be found acting out the story in their bedroom. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! Also would be good for schools because the pictures are so big.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book, February 6, 2004

By	Milena Maurer "milly" (USA) - See all my reviews

We took this book out of the library, but now we have to own it. It is such a fun book!!!
The illustrations are just wonderful and invite to look and look at the pages again. The story is well known, and Jack is very inventive to solve his problems.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Illustrations are too scary, September 15, 2007

By	Lisa M. Reed (MI, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this classic story for my son, based on the previous two reviews. Unfortunately, I will not be giving this book to him. Many of the illustrations are far too scary for a preschool child. I only wish the publisher had provided the opportunity to see inside this book before buying it on blind faith. Let's see...the giant himself has lots of large ugly teeth, a hairy mole-riddled misshapen head, and a permanent scowl on his face (His wife is just as mean and ornery looking.); there are skulls and bones, presumably the leftovers from past "meals," all over his castle (Try explaining what those are to a curious young preschooler!); while nasty looking vultures, rats, bats, and snakes abound. The artwork is indeed very detailed and colorful. However, in my opinion it is not appropriate for the younger age range (age 4) specified in the reading level.