The Jack Tales

by Ray Hicks (Stories by), Lynn Salsi (As Told to)

Enter the fantastic world of one of America's greatest living storytellers where wicked giants and enchanted animals pursue and entice Jack, an everyman hero and trickster. These three traditional tales relate the antics and misadventures of a poor mountain boy whose innocence, ingenuity, and luck enable him to outwit the wicked forces of the world around him. The stories have been handed down orally, from generation to generation of mountain folk. The Blue Ridge Mountains have been home to the Hicks family for eight generations, and Ray Hicks has been telling the stories he learned at his grandfather's knee for most of his seventy-eight years. An audio CD of Hicks in his inimitable dialect, accompanied by traditional local music makes it a delightful read-along for children and adults.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat concept, especially for folklore scholars. The three tales are easily recognizable imports from Europe, and I'm sure Ray Hicks, whose voice we could listen to on the CD (I didn't) deserves to have his art & talent preserved. The art is not to my taste, and the stories are too long and complex for preschoolers, and too long to read aloud. The book is too big for kids to hold, but could be held in a classroom, I suppose, for a booktalk.... I'm sure some folks will love it, but I don't see it being a necessary purchase for families or libraries. Except, hm, school libraries in Appalachia?

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories, including the beanstalk story and a version of "The Bremen Town Musicians." Very large, oversized book, with full-page paintings alternating with black and white pencil sketches. Also comes with a CD that I didn't get to listen to.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over-sized. Includes glossary, editor's note.

[Thuy · Rating 4 out of 5]

folk tales are so grey in whos right or wrong. lots of stealing from "bad guys" if you ask me