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

A boy climbs to the top of a giant beanstalk, where he uses his quick wits to outsmart an ogre and make his and his mother's fortune.

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.

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
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