Download Jack and the Beanstalk Steven Kellogg 9780688152819 Books

Product details Age Range 4 - 8 years Grade Level Preschool - 3 Lexile Measure 660 (What's this?) Paperback 48 pages Publisher HarperCollins; Reprint edition (April 24, 1997) Language English ISBN-10 0688152813

Jack and the Beanstalk Steven Kellogg 9780688152819 Books Reviews

• Overall I enjoyed the book - the illustrations in particular are amazing (and yes, possibly scary for the under 5 crowd). My only complaint is perhaps what other readers may view as a positive - that the text tries to capture the "Old world" language flare. At times, I found the wording to be unintentionally tongue twisting... not just the choice of words but the rhythm to the sentences - all made it a little rough for this reader the first time through. As examples, try reading aloud
  "What!" said Jack's mother."Have you been such a dolt, such an idiot as to give away my Milky-white, the best milker in the parish, for a set of paltry beans? Off with you to bed! And as for your precious beans, here they go out the window."
  So Jack went upstairs to his little room in the attic, and sad and sorry he was to be sure, as much for his mother's sake as for the loss of his supper.
  ....
  My only other criticism of the book is that only once does the Ogre give the full recitation of
  "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum, I smell the blood of an Enlishman.
  Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread."
  Most of the time he only says Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum, or perhaps the rest of the first line. I've read another version that repeats the full verse at least thrice, and by the third reading, all the children are gleefully reciting along with you. So when I read this particular version to my children, I just ad lib that part and read the full verse each time, which the children seem to enjoy.
  
  Overall, I'd say the illustrations make the book. Otherwise, the version is a bit too awkwardly worded for me, but others may enjoy that style.
• The students love this book. I appreciate having the opportunity to buy it at a price I can afford so students can enjoy a variety of books from various illustrators and authors. So thank you!
• i purchased it for my 4 year old grandson thinking the illustrations would be a nicer feature, unfortunately, they were quite hideous and scared my grandson who decided he DID NOT WANT TO READ IT MOMMY!!! my daughter has returned it and i bot a more appropriate version with a nice big friendly looking giant etc. would not recommend this version!
• I bought this for my cousins for Christmas because it was one of my favorite books when I was little. I loved the artistic pictures in it but did think it may be a little to graphic for my younger cousins so gave it to my older cousin. It was beautiful but is a paperback and due to the quality of the artwork almost wished it was a hardback.
• This is kind of an intense kid's story. Haha. My mom read it to me as a kid and I purchased it to read to my kids not remembering exactly how it went. My son seems to really enjoy it but he's got a pretty big imagination and likes monsters and such.
• The illustrations are very scarily drawn which appealed to the five year old boy I bought it for. The scarier the illustrations and the story, the more he likes it. The giant was one of the ugliest giants I have seen in a Jack and the Beanstalk book. His wife was a horror as well. If your child likes his stories to be ugly and frightening, this is the version for you.
• I never realized what a horrible lesson this book teaches until I bought it for my son. We threw it away.
• I loved these books as a kid. But reading it again as an adult to little children suprised me. First off the illustrations can be very scary and the story is boring at points. I realize it's more of a classic take on the story but not the moral I would want to give kids.