Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-In this straightforward retelling of a traditional tale, Jack trades the family cow for five magic beans. When a beanstalk grows where his dismayed mother has tossed them, Jack climbs it to pay three visits to the giant at the top. He emerges from the trips victorious and wealthy while the giant ultimately plummets down a mountainside. This title stays true to the core elements of the tale, but it does little to stretch beyond its backbone and softens much of the rich language that traditionally draws readers into Jack's adventure. One is not left terrified, or even slightly shaken, upon reading this version, for what is a "Fee-fi-fo-fum" without the subsequent threat of crunching bones? L-pez Sal n has depicted the giant as a sort of oversized leprechaun and while his angular, spare illustrations may have succeeded alongside a humorous, tongue-in-cheek retelling, they fall short when paired with this watered-down version. If in need of a Jack tale rich in classic references, suspense, and humor, try Steven Kellogg's Jack and the Beanstalk (HarperCollins, 1991) or Gail E. Haley's Appalachian gem, Jack and the Bean Tree (Random, 1986).-Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.