Jack

by Tomie dePaola

Beloved author-illustrator Tomie dePaola’s take on traditional “Jack tales”—in which a young hero ventures out to seek his fortune and gains it through luck or pluck—is perfect for preschoolers. His hero’s reward is a wealth of animal friends who increase in number—and volume—as the story progresses. When Jack sets out to see the world and find a place of his own, he’s surprised to attract a following of enthusiastic animal friends eager to join him on his quest. Jack and his entourage all have high hopes that they will find just what they are looking for as they travel on their merry way. Children will delight in the cumulative chorus of animal sounds as the pages get more and more crowded with the residents of this delightful kingdom.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Briony · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like it ended rather abruptly.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to read this with a cooperative group who could each give voice to a certain animal. But if they were a cooperative group, they wouldn't need the message of simple kindness (that apparently many other readers miss or dismiss). And if there were enough of them for all the animals, only the few in front would be able to see all the visual references to the various traditional stories and rhymes.

Still, I'm with the woman at the end who thinks that giving Jack and his friends the fixer-upper is a good thing, not the man who objects to the cheerful noise and friendly paint colors. Somehow I'd get the whole group engaged and give them all a chance at discovery.

(My only quibble is that apparently Jack 'liberated' these critters from various farmers along his route just on their say-so... it's not like they were being abused or anything....)

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the heck? It's like this was written by a 2nd grader. I ordered this for the library because I read 3 good reviews for it. I must be missing something.

[Emmaus Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomie DePaola once again takes on a traditional tale and makes it his own, with some really fun additions.

The story of Jack from the Jack Tales, who goes to the King to ask for a house is presented in simple, but attractive detail. Sounds are included for storytime interaction, and in the background of each double paged picture are Mother Goose and Brothers Grimm stories in miniature. Jack is not a trickster in this, but that makes it all the more available for younger listeners.

An excellent choice for story-time, and to introduce other classic folk tales and rhymes!

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I found this one to be just...boring. The illustrations are beautiful and I loved the nod to the mother goose rhymes and fairy tales in the background (which I didn't even realize was there until I read another review.) So that brought it up from 1 star to 2 for me, but I don't think that this would work well in one of my storytimes--maybe one on one sharing. And I liked one reviewer's idea of a bedtime story--something sweet and gentle before sleep. But I think I'd cry if I were that parent and had to read it over and over because it's so boring.

[Phoebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art, as usual, is gorgeous, and the pictures tell their own sweet stories, with tiny familiar figures in the backgrounds on nearly every page. However, the story is clunky. Disappointing, and are all the reviewers afraid to pan the great TDP? Every one is glowing. Ages 3 and up.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book to read and find all the fairy tale pictures within each page...krb 4/27/18

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course Tomie dePaola had his own rendition of a traditional "Jack story"! Who better to create a picture book on the classic theme? Jack resides on a quiet farm, but desires a life in the city. His grandfather suggests Jack go there and inquire of the king if there's a house he can move into. What adventures will a boy find upon leaving home for the first time?

Jack crosses paths with numerous animals en route to the city. A chick asks to go along, and Jack is glad for the company. A duck, goose, and dog join in, as well as a frog, pig, and cow. One cat, sheep, horse, and owl later, Jack's entourage would widen any spectator's eyes. Will this parade be received well at the castle? The king knows an abandoned building that could be just the home for Jack and his animal friends, if he's willing to work hard fixing it up. Yes, Jack is going to enjoy city life, and who knows what good things he and his fellow travelers will bring to the kingdom?

This book is a visual pleasure cruise. The subtle color palette is one of the loveliest I ever saw from Tomie dePaola. In the background of many pages are illustrations hinting at well-known nursery rhymes and fairy tales, offering something extra to look for. The main story is also good: on life's journey you pick up an eclectic group of friends and acquaintances, but if you tolerate their noise they'll help you achieve great things, as Jack and his animals do for the rundown section of the city they move into. I rate Jack two and a half stars; on the surface it's pretty basic, but there's more here than a passing glance tells.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiction that builds toward fairy tale improbability... with a most satisfying ending.

How delightful that Grandpa's first utterance to young Jack begins with, "Why don't you go to the city and ask the king?"

Sounds so easy!

MY FAVORITE TREATS IN THIS BOOK

* Illustrations by talented Tomie include animal noises that are absolutely delightful. (Although it would have been so easy to make this book cornball or way too crowded.)

* In particular, I enjoyed seeing the shades of blue as Jack walked and whistled.

* At a certain point my LOLs started and probably, Goodreaders, you and your kids will start laughing too. (If you're not laughing already.) Don't miss the hilarious little rendition of Humpty Dumpty.

* Such a magnificent ending, as well.

SEEMS TO ME

Kidlit can involve dreams that come true in a cloying manner (such as a book I panned today, "Snow Globe Wishes"), but this particular fantasy hby Tomie dePaola definitely works for me. Simply delightful!

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, but unremarkable entry in dePaola’s catalog.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jack should have gone to the city to ask for a story to go with his illustrations.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack wants to live in a house in the city. As he travels to the king to ask for one, he meets a lot of animal friends. They ask to come too. The king gives him a run down house to fix up, and he does and lives happily ever after.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids loved this, aping the “can we come too”/”yes please do”, and listing off all the animals. Personally I think it gives WAY TOO WRONG an impression of how easy it is to get a house in the big city.

8/10

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack heads into the city to ask the king for a house, and on his way, he is joined by many, many animal friends. I really liked the artwork. Typical dePaola designs, but I liked all the sound effects best, all the different colors of the animal noises. The ending, though, was weak, and as much fun as making all those animal noises would be, it is why I wouldn't read it in a stoytime. It just sort of ends, but without resolution. Jack and co. arrive, get their house, and by the illustrations, it looks like they bring color and sound and friendship into the city. But it's never really laid out. Most of the story is really the journey, with more and more animals joining Jack. The lack of a conclusion (let alone a lesson or intent) leaves this one a bit of a weaker read.

[Bethel Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to see so many negative reviews on this one. Having been reared on Mother Goose & Brothers Grimm stories, I found this story sweet and satisfying. True, there is no conflict, but not all children's books need this element to work. I read it to a pair of 2-year-old twins and they enjoyed it and loved hunting for the other characters (Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty, & Jack and Jill, etc.) that appear as vignettes in the illustrations. Speaking of which, the illustrations are done in a very early style and pair very nicely with the simplistic style of the tale. All in all, a nice enjoyable read.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

A man makes a decision. He welcomes others to join him. He takes a gift that could be depressing and turns it into something beautiful. This influences those around him to do the same. And that’s all.

This is a simple story suited for preschoolers who love animals and their sounds, and works well for people who believe simple kindness does make a difference. It’s not my favorite Tomie de Paola book, but I still liked the story idea.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this amusing cumulative story, Jack is going to see the king to ask about getting a house in the city. Along his way, Jack meets many different animals who each want to go with him. As Jack goes along he has trailing behind him a chick, a duck, a goose, a dog, a frog, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a horse, a cat, an owl. Each making its own sound. Plus Jack's shoes squeak, and a curious crow joins the group! It is fun to read when repeating all the animal sounds each time. Great illustrations.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great story, with repetitive elements and Tomie's always lovely illustrations. The animal sounds are fun for my toddler to add in, and there are the details of other familiar nursery characters in the background to spot - Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Jack jumping over the candlestick, and more.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waffled between three and four stars on this one because it sort of lacks plot and as an adult thinking about the possibility of a child asking me to read it OVER and OVER again, all those animal noises are kind of exhausting. BUT I can see how kids really love the simple story and the animal noises so four stars it is.

[Joy Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A children's book about a young man who walked to the city to ask the king for a house. Along the way he was joined by many animals. The king gave the man and the animals a fixer-up house. I always enjoy this author's books and illustrations.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love Tomie dePaola books. I was expecting this to be a play on Jack and the Beanstalk or something else clever. But, it was a boy who wanted a house and was essentially the pied piper of animals. I guess the moral is follow your dream to the king and you'll get a house?

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little different from dePaola's other books. I felt that there wasn't something to be learned from the story, it was just a fun light-hearted book. It also felt very familiar to me, like I've read something similar.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cute take on a lot of nursery rhymes. In fact, if you look closely at many of the illustrations, there is often a familiar tale going on in the background (Little Red Riding Hood, Three Men in a Tub, Jack Be Nimble, etc).

[Adeline Ptak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Level: young children
Engagement: 2/3
Visual appeal: 2/3
Message/values: 1/3
Re-readability: 1/3

Love a tommie book but this has literally no plot. The animals joining in jacks fun is cute and then overly repetitive. We read it once and never again

[Miss Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is on his way to the city to ask the king for a house. along his way he comes across several farm animals that join him on his quest.
Great book that children can make lots of animal sounds that go along with the story.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of animal noises.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun for Jack to read a book about his name. He liked all the animal noises too.

[Kalli Jean Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations but the story is somewhat bland and the end is confusing.

[Jocelyn Hee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was waiting for a punchy ending, instead it felt like the last pages were missing as the story didn't feel like it even came to an end so it was a very disappointing read overall.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five because it was very FUNNY! There were little animal sounds, too.