Jack and the Beanstalk

by Steven Kellogg

A favorite fairy tale brought vividly to life by Steven Kellogg's elaborate, classic artwork —perfect for a read-aloud pick! Join young Jack as he climbs a giant beanstalk to a magic castle in the clouds. Meet a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that sings by itself. And don't forget the ogre... A classic fairy tale with rich and dynamic illustrations that will leave you chanting "Fee-fi-fo-fum!"

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Folklore

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 1991

About the author

Steven Kellogg is an author and illustrator who has contributed over 90 books for children. He is best known for writing books about animals, for which he credits his grandmother .

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth be told, but I do feel rather conflicted regarding Steven Kellogg's Jack and the Beanstalk. For indeed, I have absolutely loved loved loved from a textual and narrational point of departure, Kellogg's retelling of Joseph Jacobs' 1889 Jack and the Beanstalk story as it appears in his delightful English Fairy Tales, with the author, with Stephen Kellogg in my humble opinion actually sticking really quite close to Jacobs' original words whilst also successfully adapting textual flow in particular to suit contemporary children (and yes, I also think that the reference to the nursery rhyme of Jack and Jill is a wonderful added touch, as I certainly have smiled at Steven Kellogg's verbal image of the giant falling down and breaking his crown and the beanstalk come tumbling after).

However and as much as I have indeed enjoyed Jack and the Beanstalk narrationally, from an emotional and personal, as well from a visual point of view, I simply do find the illustrations that Steven Kellogg provides as accompaniment to and for his presented text, albeit of course aesthetically awe-inspiring and full full full of colour, expression and much detail, also and at the same time quite too visually creepy for me with regard to how the ogre, how the giant has been drawn and depicted. And while I can as an older adult naturally and of course aesthetically, visually handle that the giant is always baring his hugely pointed teeth and even constantly staring with glaring, baleful yellow eyes seemingly directly at me, if I had encountered Steven Kellogg's illustrations of the ogre as a child, if I had encountered Jack and the Beanstalk as a youngster, even though the text, while Steven Kellogg's adapted narrative would most certainly have been totally and absolutely fine for me, in particular his vividly horrific and toothsome depictions of the giant ogre, they would very likely have given me some very bad and frightening nightmares.

[Shehla Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child I Loved reading this book and use to sleep imagining how wonderful it would be to climb up in the sky and see a castle. This book is an all time favourite and describes a young boy who is told off by his mother for selling their only possession a cow for some beans. Unknown to the mother the beans are magical and when she throws them out of the window they overnight grow into beanstalk. Jack when see the stalk from his window climbs up the beanstalk which leads him to a castle of a man eater giant. The story then follows as how the poor family become rich when Jack takes the hen from the giant that lays golden eggs.

The story basically revolves around relationship, poverty and fantasy of becoming rich which is a typical depiction of the times it was written in. It beautifully portrayes the relationship between Jack and his mother and encourages imaginative thinking.

[Anvi (warner's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not a reader growing up and I did not understand how people could read books without any pictures in them lol. But my father made me read this one book, and it had 15-20 short stories inside. 'Jack and the beanstalk' was one of them and the only one I remember because it was the longest. We used to sit together in the evening and read for half an hour daily. (Yeah, this 20 page short story took me a week to finish 😂) I re-read this today after at least 15 years and everything came back to me in an instant, not only the story, but also the memories.

[cooper elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read for school

[Tammy Emmert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time there lived a poor widow and her son Jack. One day, Jack’s mother told him to sell their only cow. Jack went to the market and on the way he met a man who wanted to buy his cow. Jack asked, “What will you give me in return for my cow?” The man answered, “I will give you five magic beans!” Jack took the magic beans and gave the man the cow. But when he reached home, Jack’s mother was very angry. She said, “You fool! He took away your cow and gave you some beans!” She threw the beans out of the window. Jack was very sad and went to sleep without dinner.

The next day, when Jack woke up in the morning and looked out of the window, he saw that a huge beanstalk had grown from his magic beans! He climbed up the beanstalk and reached a kingdom in the sky. There lived a giant and his wife.


How to use this in the classroom: Using beans you can do quantity and simple addition and subtraction.

[Katrina Wellman-Machut · Rating 5 out of 5]

When was thinking about books about rurality and poverty the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" rung true for both of these classifications. Steven Kellogg writes the traditional story, but adds his whimsical and deeply detailed illustrations.

His giant and his wife are portrayed as ogres. She a little less frightening as she did have compassion for Jack, however her necklace of skills the size of boy's heads wad a bit alarming. The giant ogre is drawn as very scary. His sharp teeth clawed hands and loud booming voice make him a classic villain that reader's may choose to hate. This hate can lead readers to believe he, the ogre, got what he deserved after all he was eating boys, right? It also leads into that idea to being extremely wealthy can be considered inherently evil/selfish as well. This rationalization is an interesting one as from another perspective Jack could be seen as a thief.

As typical as fairy tales it ends with happily ever after and Jack marries a princess and is now very, very rich. I think this juxtaposition is an interesting conversation to have with students. Perhaps the Ogre isn't a "bad guy" but rather misunderstood and justifiably angry at someone stealing his stuff. A child's perspective on ethics of this nature is very interesting.

[What Angie Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have so many questions! Like why did Jack just decide to go up the beanstalk? I mean if cut down, they could eat for days!
He stole gold and that's okay? The poor Giant needed that gold too! Then he murders the Giant! How rude! What did they do with the body?
Why didn't he buy the old cow back? Why would a butcher want a milking cow who doesn't milk?
So now his mom and him are rich!!?? Did they move? Where's his dad?

[Esmee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me like 10 minutes

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, not nephew approved

[Erica Gronowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who plants a bean. The stalk grows and grows so big and tall. Jack climbs up the bean stalk to find himself at this magical castle where a hen lays golden eggs, a harp that play by itself. A big ogre living up in the magical castle. The saying everyone knows with this fairy tale is Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum.

[Alissa Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by Steven Kellogg. My husband told this story to the kids and then we checked out a bunch of different versions from the library. They love the pictures in this one as they sit and retell the story.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations make it. Endpapers even add to the story.

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite retelling, which retains much of the flavor of the original source material and has deliciously gross and shivery drawings.

[Güneş · Rating 5 out of 5]

qardaşım bu kitabları ingilis dilinde oxuduğu üçün heqiqeten xoşbext olmalıdı :)

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title: Jack and the Beanstalk

Author/Illustrator: Steven Kellog

Reading Level: 4.5

Book Level: K - 3rd Grade

Book Summary: "Jack and the Beanstalk" by Steven Kellog is a masterfully retold, and beautifully illustrated, rendering the traditional literature story of Jack and his adventure up the beanstalk.


Bookshelf Genre:
Traditional Literature

Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits:
Presentation – "Jack and the Beanstalk" by Steven Kellog is an ideal example of how a children's novel can be used as a mentor text - even for older students. In my own classroom, I would use this book by reading the story to my students, pausing at each page and talking them through the beautifully illustrated pages - pointing out how the images add an additionally layer into the message the author is conveying to us - the readers. I would then task them with taking the text from one of the pages and trying their hand at creating illustrations that adds to the presentation of the message the author is putting forth on that particular page.

[Abby Bauernfeind · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very traditional version of Jack and the Beanstalk. The dialogue contains common phrases for folktales but also some traditional English words that are extremely outdated but give some variety to the story. The characters match what is expected of fairytale characters shows bravery while the ogres are not the brightest and obsessed with meat. The true strength of this book is the illustrations which give the text depth and show the true nature of the characters as well as their emotions. The book is contradictory in some parts as it encourages stealing and has themes that are challenging to identify. The condoning of stealing makes this book less effective in terms of teaching lessons. Overall, the story has many great contributions through its visual effects. It just made me sad to see that Jack still came away with the items he stole as that is not the most productive ending for children to see. The book is engaging, just not the ending I had hoped for.

[Kaci Beesecker]

A children's story. Jack, a poor country boy, trades the family cow for a handful of magic beans, which grow into an enormous beanstalk reaching up into the clouds. Jack climbs the beanstalk and finds himself in the castle of an unfriendly giant. He steals different things from the giant without him finding out until the golden harp, where the giant is told by the harp that the boy is taking it. He follows the boy and tries to catch him, but the boy cuts down the giant beanstalk before the giant can reach him.

This book would be a good book to teach about morals. This would be directed towards upper elementary. You could ask the students what they think a moral is and then explain what it is. Then have them guess what the morals of the story are and then tell them what they really are.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

[library] Holy cow. I'm used to thinking of Steven Kellogg as the author of cheerful books populated by snub-nosed, smiling, jolly boys and girls. Jack and the Beanstalk is making me rethink. It also sent me off looking to see if Steven Kellogg has ever won a Caldecott. He hasn't. It doesn't even look like he's had an honor book which seems like an oversight.

He's especially impressive here because the illustrations are so dark. He took a story that is familiar to the point of being boring and refreshed it in a way that is not particularly cheerful, snub-nosed, or jolly. The end papers set up and then conclude the story in ways that are both unsettling and satisfying. And the illustrations are glorious. His night skies, in particular, are things of beauty.

[Aaliyah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and The Beanstalk is a children's folklore. This version was written by Steven Kellogg and has won the ALA Notable Children's Book Award. It's about a boy name Jack, who is poor and decides to use magic beans that create a gigantic beanstalk. When Jack climbs the beanstalk, he comes to an ogre's home and begins to get himself in some trouble after taking things that does not belong to him. I rated this book a 4 star rating out of 5 stars because it is a classic and it was pretty intriguing. The only reason that I didn't give this book a 5 star out of 5 rating is because of the message. The message is not really a good message. Taking things that does not belong to you is not good. The illustrations were very detailed and colorful, and it favored modern day folktale illustrations. Jack and The Beanstalk can sort of give a lesson and show readers that when you do something that you are not suppose to, it can have unfortunate reactions. This story may be appealing to young readers due to the plot and the colors/illustrations in the story. If I were working with children. I would use this to show a classic story and that it is not okay to take things that do not belong to you. Date Reviewed April 23, 2018.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great telling of this classic tale. So much fun for youngsters to look at these pictures. They are vibrant and delicious. They spark the imagination and anticipation for the reader. I could spend hours just searching the illustration details.
The story is more interesting since Mr. Kellogg tells us that it is based on the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" from English Fairy Tales edited in 1889 by Joseph Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs says that the story was told to him in Australia back near 1860.
I never heard the ending that Jack actually marries a princess. So that endeared me to this version even more.

[Claire Stanko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature- Folktale
Awards:
Audience: 5-10 years old
A. Jack is described as very adventurous and rebellious.
B. I am familiar with the movie version of this story.
C. I would use this story as a storytelling tool because you could use a ton of suspense with introducing what might be at the top of the beanstalk. I also think you could help students with predictions by helping them come up with what they think could be at the top of the beanstalk.
D. What did Jack sell in order to get the magic bean? a cow!

[Karen]

Book Title: Jack and the Beanstalk
Author: Steven Kellogg
Reading Level: N
Book Level:5.1

Book Summary: The classic folktale about Jack and his climb up a giant beanstalk.

Writing Trait:
Word Choice- I would use this mentor text at the 3-5th grade level to look closely at word choice. We would look through the story and identify the adjectives and descriptive words that really give the reader a great image for what the author is writing about. We would use a story prompt of once upon a time to write our own folktale and practice using adjectives.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether reading at night or in the day, my son always demanded, “Make the giant voice scary, daddy!” This was a favorite for me to read, though on occasion, I scared my daughter (my youngest) out of the room and into her mother’s arms with that voice. I guess that probably made it a mommy favorite too. Amazing illustrations from front endpapers to back. Even though my children are much older now, this one still gets some occasional airtime. Now, however, I ask the kids to read the scary giant part.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my favorite part of this story is the illustrations. They cover the page with curvy and swirly lines showing the ugliness of the ogre and Jack. What starts as a boy who receives magical beans in trade for his cow turns into a great mission. At the top of the beanstalk he begins to take things from the Ogre to enhance his family's riches. It gets dangerous each time, but like many stories it has a happily ever after.

[Josh Bader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the exact book I was reading. The book I read was from 1967 and I was unable to find it after almost an hour of looking up multiple books. The book I have doesn't even have a cover. It is just a blue hard book with the title on the spine. This book was the original Jack and the Beanstalk story. This is an original classic. The story's older which make it very unique how they were produced. Great folktale.

[Madison Dragonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack gives his one and only cow for some magic beans. After Jack receives his magic beans, he plants them, not realizing they are magic. A large beanstalk grows because of it, and the beanstalk leads to a giants land. He tries his best not to wake up the giant, but it doesn't end so well. For a story that keeps you on your toes, this is the perfect one to read!

[Michael Nunez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is slightly similar to other books but has it own twist and turn with jacking being courageous to enter the castle and tricking the beast's wife. The imaginary is fascinated, my eye were constantly wandering off from the wording. There were a lot of detail behold the setting and the background was fascinating

[Anna Staton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade Level: 3rd-5th

This book would be a great tool for comparing and contrasting to other books in this genre. I think many of them have common threads, especially the language that is used to tell the story. They also have many differences in the plot- like Jack and the Beanstalk. I believe most students would enjoy such a creative story like this one.

[Taylor Armey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a magical book and will help the kids to use their imagination. The illustrations on the pages are amazing and show so much detail! I have never read this book before but have heard the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. It was really neat to actually read it. I enjoyed this book a lot and will read it to my future classroom.

[Kate]

Jack and the Beanstalk illustrations are very unique in this version. The pictures are very cartoon-looking and seem to be drawn by hand. They look like they are were then colored in, not painted. They use a lot of different colors and have a lot of blending of colors in them. I do not remember reading this story before so the storyline was new to me. It is a really good story.