This Is the House That Jack Built

by Simms Taback

What happened in the house that Jack built? It all started with the cheese that lay in the house that Jack built. And then came the rat that ate the cheese and the cat who killed the rat. Caldecott Medal winning author and illustrator Simms Taback brings his distinctive humor and creativity to the beloved story of Jack and the house that he built.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Storytime, Fiction, Nursery Rhymes, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Simms Taback was an American writer, graphic artist, and illustrator of more than 35 books. He won the 2000 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, and was a runner-up in 1998 for There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

Reviews

[Katie Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traditional stories are supposed to engage readers. The predictable, repetitive chant in this story found me almost singing along out-loud with each page. As you continue through the story, you'll see that the text gets smaller the more frequently you read the passage. The author assumes that by the end of the book, you can predict that "that lay in the house that Jack built" will end the page. This chanting a truly remarkable element of a well-written children's book. My favorite part about these chants is watching a young child repeat the words with you and feel the confidence that they too can read along with you.
As I sang the text of this book, I sang to the tune of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." This was a book that I preformed a play to in preschool. To this day, I can recite most of the story word-for-word and I can still see some of the pages in my head. At the conclusion of the story, I read that the author of "This is the House that Jack Built" is also the author of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." No wonder I enjoyed the book so much!
The bright illustrations of this book were also fabulously engaging. The additional comments in small print were hysterical! I found myself bringing to book closer and squinting to read the warnings on the rat poison box, labels of meat placed on the illustration of the cow, or the letter written to Jack by the farmer.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun rendition of the classic poem. It doesn't work as well as other Taback type books, perhaps it was a bit too repetitive. However, it is very creative. When the line is about the cheese that lies in the house that jack built, the artist listed tons of different cheeses and noted whether stinky or smelly, etc.

I wanted to take a look at other books he had done which is why I picked this up. Good for a fun, irreverent rendition but not good if you have a real reason to look up the poem.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that the pages were a little "busy". What I like best about this book is the important historical note on the last page (why this is a classic!): "THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, a favorite rhyme for children for several centuries, was first published in 1755 and probably derived from an ancient Hebrew chant in the 16th century. It was illustrated by Randolph Caldecott in 1878."

[Chelsea Rusch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the House that Jack Built by Simms Taback is a wonderful picturebook of a classic nursery rhyme. The peritextual features are as clever and funny as the illustrations inside the book. The endpages are ads for all sorts of different houses. The back cover is a sale ad for tools that Jack recommends. The illustrations are witty and hilarious with bold colors and new hidden quirks to be discovered upon every opening of the book.
I enjoyed this book because of the fun illustrations that entice the reader to keep reading. This is a very engaging nursery rhyme that kids of all ages will enjoy.

[Madison Ramsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is filled with vibrant illustrations and a simple story. The story is a chant that builds on itself after each line. However, it always comes back to, "the house that Jack built." There are many characters including a rat, cat, dog, cow, maiden, man, judge, rooster, and a farmer. After the farmer is introduced, we are introduced to the artist who drew all of these people and animals.

This story would be very helpful in a lower level classroom when learning about rhyming. It would also be helpful to introduce rhythm and cadence to a class, especially if the next lesson were about poetry.

[Anna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story Summary: Jack builds a house and he describes what is in his house and why things are there.
Grade Level : K-3rd
Classroom Use: to find Sight words and memorize
Individual Student: Those who like bright pictures and rhymes
Small Group use: To create a song that would go along with the story
Whole Classroom: To relay cause and effect.
Related Books: Simms Tobback books
Multimedia: Youtube read aloud recordings

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bold illustrations highlight this version of the familiar tale about eating, and chasing, and tossing, and marrying . . . all within the confines of one expansive house.

[Joe Chell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title: This is the House that Jack Built
Author/Illustrator: Simms Taback
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 2.6

Book Summary: A traditional rhyme about the story of hows Jack’s house was built that all began because of the rat that ate the cheese

Bookshelf Genre: Picture book

Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits:

Ideas - The book has a clear storyline of building action, with each page adding a new detail of how Jack’s house was slowly built. The sentences make the reader think what could be coming or happening next as the slow progression builds all the way through.

Sentence Fluency - The story uses repetitive sentences that mostly follow the pattern of “this is the...that….the…..” This can help the reader flow through the book easily, and connect each page with the one before it.

Presentation – The author uses a variety of font styles and patterns that are enhanced on each page through the colorful and attractive illustrations aiding each aspect of the story.

This book can be a great tool to improve the retelling abilities of students. Asking them about characters, objects, and the order of events in this story will help them think beyond the reading and developing a better understanding of the story.

[Tylah Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This Is the House That Jack Built" is an excellent example of a cumulative story, which is a repeated children's rhyme that progressively adds to itself with each stanza. Catering to young children in the toddler and preschool age range, the narrative depicts a series of illogical occurrences, commencing with the construction of a dwelling by a character named Jack and culminating with the portrayal of a sorrowful damsel in a state of isolation. This charming poem deserves a 5-star evaluation due to its efficacy in captivating young readers. The rhythmic and repetitive qualities of the text facilitate effortless acquisition and recitation, so enhancing memorization and fostering linguistic growth. The pictures, frequently vibrant and imaginative, provide an additional source of pleasure, captivating youngsters visually. The illogical correlations between each stanza can ignite curiosity and amusement, rendering it an ideal selection for bedtime narratives or communal engagements. Although the story lacks profound significance, its repeating form offers a feeling of safety and predictability for young listeners. The book's uncomplicated nature and captivating cadence render it an enduring favorite that may be enjoyed throughout multiple generations.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a fascination with stories and songs like this one. Simms Taback has contagious fun with "This is the House that Jack Built."

Those Goodreaders who have studied French, or grown up speaking the language, know this delightful song: "Tout Va Très Bien Madame La Marquise."

Illustrations and lettering by Simms are outrageously wonderful. The words are already fabulous.

As you may know, this story begins with:

This is the cheese that lay in the house that Jack built.

On the first two facing pages, what do readers see?

ON THE LEFT

Nine highly realistic, mouth-watering pictures of cheese, labeled from Cheddr to Port-Salut, with little signs describing the flavor of each.

For instance, Gouda is called, "Not so smelly." While Brie is "Really stinky and gooey."

ON THE RIGHT

You see the house at the start of the book. Jack's cheese lay in the house as depicted in an eycatching, whimsical, ver6y detailed way.

VISUALLY, AS WELL AS LITERALLY,

This traditional rhyme grows wilder and wilder. Hilarious!

FIVE STARS. I can't imagine a better version than this one, Goodreaders.

[Mrs. Motz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you read this book called this is the house that Jack built by: Simms Taback. I think you should read this in the house by: Simms Taback.
To start I think others should read this book because the illustrations are beautiful. The illustrations are beautiful when you read this book. When you read this book thick do i like this book or do i don’t like this book's illustrations.
Also it is a rhyming book. Like this is the cat that killed the rat.This is the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat. Lastly, you can write a story like this .You can rhyme like this book. And you can rhyme like you can do this but with a different book.
As you can see you should read this is the house that Jack built by: Simms Taback. I think you should buy or borrow this book.

By: Leyna

[TJ Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the House that Jack Built is an old nursery rhyme that Simms Taback has brought to life with his unique illustration style. The book traces groups of animals and people and how they relate to each other. It was illustrated using "mixed-media by a mixed up person," making each page unique.

I liked this book a lot, primarily because it is a nursery rhyme I perform with my children's theatre troupe, but also because of how fitting and engaging the illustrations were to the story.

If I used this in a classroom, I would opt to use it teaching children art. I would have them illustrate each page themselves using mixed media including color pencil, crayons, markers, construction paper, magazine cut outs, ect.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accumulative rhyme much like There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

The illustrations are very bold with an almost hectic look due to the use of mixed media. They are very colorful and there are lots of little humorous details through out. There is a fun addition to the traditional rhyme where the author has inserted themselves creating one of the pages, I have always enjoyed this type of meta humor. Also, this book is great if you want to teach your child some different types of cheeses :)

[Molly Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a house built by a boy named Jack. The story tells us what is inside the house that Jack built. The story adds a new character each page and continues to repeat the story in a rhyming way.

The rhyme of this book is my favorite part. I found myself memorizing the order of the characters and following along with the book without actually reading, but more like singing.

This book would be good to use with younger students. It would be good to use in a unit about rhyming words.

[Jessie Polson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only gave this book two stars, because while it is a cute book that builds off of each page more and more into the story it could be a bit confusing for children because it was a little hard for me to keep up with! I definitely enjoyed this story at the end when all of the characters came together into the house that Jack built, but the font of the book was a little too crazy with the amount of details in the story!

[Kaylee Aulenbacher · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was about all the different things that was in the house

I did not like this book at all because it has no story line.

I would never use this book in my classroom, but if i were to use it i would use it as a rhyming book. the one good thing about this book is that it makes all the words rhyme with each other.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happened in the house that Jack built? It all started with the cheese that lay in the house that Jack built. And then came the rat that ate the cheese and the cat who killed the rat. Caldecott Medal?winning author and illustrator Simms Taback brings his distinctive humor and creativity to the beloved story of Jack and the house that he built.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the familiar cumulative story originally written in 1755 and has been popular through the centuries. The rat ate the cheese, the cat killed the rat, the dog worried the cat ... and so on, in rhyme.
In this book the author/illustrator has created the story again in bright and busy illustrations and large lettering. The back cover is funny with the tools shown that Jack used.

[Grace DeBaltzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute poem. The layout of the book made it a bit difficult to follow in some places however the repetition would be really good for building sight vocabulary. I think there might be some STEM application here.

[Tangie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story in the Aesop Prize list. This story is about a lot of characters and how they belong in the story. This story is constantly building and I feel that this story would be a good story to use to teach the students how to list things.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for repetition.

[Shahd Rdawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

📀 story

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Sims Taback can write himself into a classic children's story and make it better. One of my favorite classic read-alouds and I only read this version.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find the book painfully repetitive but most kids I know absolutely adore this book.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Energetic cumulative tale with loud and colorful art. Have to read it more than once to soak up the details in the art.

[Samantha Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic rhyme but the illustrations are too cluttered.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional repetitive tale, with some added twists. I liked the extra stinky cheeses, and the addition of the artist, as well as the section about the history of the tale.

[Jenn]

#stayathome reading with the kids

too scary for my youngest
I was not a big fan

(did love all the cheeses, though)

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

familiar rhyme. odd artwork.

[Callia Hutchison]

Poetry

Grade level: Pre-K-2

Lexile level: NP580L