Jack the Giant Chaser

Compton, Joanne

ISBN 10: 0823409988 ISBN 13: 9780823409983

Publisher: Holiday House, 1993

Synopsis

A full-color retelling of an Appalachian version of an old folktale chronicles the adventures of Jack, who kills seven catfish and brags about killing "seven with one blow," which leads to a confrontation with an unruly mountain giant.

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Reviews

Grade 1-3-- An adaptation of Richard Chase's "Jack and the Giants' Newground" from The Jack Tales (Houghton, 1943). In Chase's version, there are five giants who must be outwitted by a smaller human. In this story, like the Grimms' "The Brave Little Tailor," there is only one. The motif of "seven with one blow" found in the Grimm tale is included here; rather than seven flies, these authors include seven catfish who are killed with one stone. The tale is kept lighthearted through the use of other regional details (the giant's meal consists of cornbread, greens, and ham) and with pastel-colored cartoon pictures that have exaggerated facial characteristics and skinny bodies similar to those created by Quentin Blake. Because of its humorous qualities and its length, this version can be shared successfully in story hours and will appeal to younger listeners than those who might enjoy Chase's tale or Eve Tharlet's longer retelling of The Brave Little Tailor (Picture Book Studio, 1989). --Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Comptons have adapted the familiar "valiant little tailor" narrative as an upbeat and entertaining picture-book version with an Appalachian setting. Their direct, folksy view of down-home mountain kin seems perfectly suited to the tale's raffish humor; pictures and text offer numerous chuckles and a few outright guffaws. Instead of flies, as in the traditional version, Jack here swats seven catfish in one grand wallop; instead of five giants there is now one. Still, as expected, Jack is as quick-witted as his nemesis is stolid, and the resourceful hero--mainly through his funny fast-talking--sends this lumbering giant running for his life. In addition to the waggish countenances of hero and villain, the cartoony art--a splendid match for the laid-back text--features a ubiquitous pooch whose near-maniacal expressions are a joy all by themselves. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Lifting the last episode of ``Jack and the Giants' Newground'' from Chase's Jack Tales (1943), the Comptons lead into Jack's exploits with a motif from the Grimms' ``Brave Little Tailor.'' Jack has hit seven catfish with a rock, but boasts that he's ``killed me seven with one blow!'' When his impressed neighbors send him off to deal with a troublesome (but gullible) giant, clever Jack's a match for him: challenged to haul the giant's bucket of water, he threatens to move the whole creek; in a knife-throwing contest, he claims he'll hurl the giant's knife over the mountain to his uncle, or not at all. When Jack reports that his larger kinfolk are coming, the frightened giant hides in a barrel that rolls down the mountain and breaks, and the giant runs away ``past the state line.'' As a non-gory, easily read update, this does pretty well; the tricks are much as they were in the source story, though the language is less colorful. The broadly comic, cartoon-style illustrations are lively and appropriate. Fun to share; older children may enjoy comparing this with Chase's longer tale and discussing the reasons for the changes. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-10) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0823409988
• ISBN 13: 9780823409983
• Binding: Library Binding
• Illustrator: Compton Kenn
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32