Jacques and de Beanstalk - Hardcover

Artell, Mike

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803728166 ISBN 13: 9780803728165

Publisher: Dial Books, 2010

Synopsis

I don't know for sure if dat story is true,

But down where de Cajuns live on de bayou,

When dey tell dem stories, dey shore like to talk

About dat boy Jacques and his magic beanstalk.

You know the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk, but you've never heard it like this before. Told in Cajun dialect with a distinct bayou flair, this book is perfect for reading aloud. There is even a glossary and pronunciation guide to help! The creators of Petite Rouge (which Publishers Weekly called "a sassy, spicy outing") once again deliver a hilarious twist on a well-known fairy tale.

 

About this title

About the Author:

Mike Artell is an award-winning children's book author, illustrator and television cartoonist. Mike's books include nationally recognized lift-the-flap board books for small children and non-fiction books for older children. Mike has also written and illustrated teacher and parent resource books on subjects as diverse as ecology, parties, drawing and young authorship. In addition to his work as an author and illustrator, Mike also has extensive experience as:

· A musician who plays guitar, bass, keyboard and blues harmonica.
· A storyteller who regularly performs original poems and tales.
· A newspaper editorial cartoonist.
· A magazine and greeting card writer and cartoonist.
· A keynote speaker for major educational conferences.
· A marketing consultant/board member for several high technology companies.
· The host of his own television cartooning show.

Each year, Mike shares his books and his writing/drawing techniques with thousands of students at dozens of schools across the country. During that same year, Mike typically writes and illustrates 2 books, conducts 6 teacher workshops, addresses 10 educational conferences and visits 6 libraries or children's museums.

Mike also conducts "author/illustrator in residence" programs at schools. Mike has personally guided more than 4,000 students through the process of writing and illustrating their own picture books. For this work, Mike was recognized by the Northshore (LA) chapter of the International Reading Association for "exemplary service in the promotion of literacy."

Several of Mike's books have been award-winners. Most recently, Mike's astronomy book for children, Starry Skies, was named a 1998 Best Science Book For Children by Science Books and Films magazine, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mike's books have also been named "Pick of the Lists" by Publisher's Weekly, "Top 100" by Curriculum Administrator Magazine and "Teacher's Choice" by Learning Magazine.

Mike is available for conference presentations, teacher workshops, school visits and Young Authors programs.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1–3—Artell and Harris's earlier Cajun retellings were celebrated for the clever regional twist they gave to familiar folktales. While Jacques and de Beanstalk uses that same voice, the story itself retains its original structure; there are no roles filled by alligators and no villains defeated with hot sauce. As such, the only value added to the canon by this version is that of accent. The combination of rhyme, rhythm, length, and dialect makes the story rather difficult to read aloud. The author seems aware that this may be the case and provides a glossary and pronunciation guide at the front, along with suggestions for how to emphasize the beats of each verse. A small quibble: the glossary defines "mon dieu" as French for "my goodness"—while this usage is correct, technically it translates as "My God." The illustrations are skillfully rendered in watercolor and pencil with a humorous over-the-top quality that suits the tall tale. The giant in particular is quite grotesque with his overgrown toenails and pointy head. As in this team's earlier books, a mouse (unmentioned in the text) accompanies the hero and takes part in the adventure. While it lacks the clever charm of the earlier volumes, this is a lively Beanstalk story, and it will be enjoyed where its precursors are popular.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dial Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0803728166
• ISBN 13: 9780803728165
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Harris Jim