heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
Fractured version with allusions to several fairy tales. Cute story with great, humorous voice.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
This is a retelling of Jack and the beanstalk for the beginner set. William Joyce wrote this, but oddly, he didn’t illustrate it, or that’s the way it looks. The story is similar enough to the fairytale. There is a drought, but Jack doesn’t try to sell his cow. There is a wizard who creates these magic beans that gets Jack a little magic pea bean. The giant is a little giant boy in the bathtub. He’s been in there too long. When the water is drained, it rains. SO that’s how rain happens.
I didn’t think the update was out of this world or anything, but it’s for a beginning audience and I think they would enjoy this. The artwork is cute.
The nephew thought the boy in the bathtub was hilarious. I don’t know why he finds that stuff so funny, but he does. He thought this was a cute story and an okay book. He’s just glad that’s not really how it rains. He didn’t want to walk around outside in dirty kids dirty bath water. He gave this 3 stars.
I didn’t think the update was out of this world or anything, but it’s for a beginning audience and I think they would enjoy this. The artwork is cute.
The nephew thought the boy in the bathtub was hilarious. I don’t know why he finds that stuff so funny, but he does. He thought this was a cute story and an okay book. He’s just glad that’s not really how it rains. He didn’t want to walk around outside in dirty kids dirty bath water. He gave this 3 stars.
elevetha's review against another edition
3.0
This really only got three stars because of the adorably lovely illustrations and my amusement at the phrase "local old wizard guy". Yes, I am easily amused; what of it? But moving on, the story was pretty sub-par, so even though I know that it was geared towards the younger side of the small children crowd, there are no excuses!
kristinajean's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this fractured fairy tale. especially the artwork. Although, it was rather too long for my liking.
lindseylush's review against another edition
4.0
If you think you know the Jack and the Beanstalk story, grab this version by William Joyce for a brand new twist. You’ll find a sweet smallish boy named Jack, a friendly, adventurous bean, a smallish giant kid in the bathtub, and a king with a stinky pinky. Joyce pokes some fun at the recycled names in fairy tales and drops a few puns to make this simple story an enjoyable read aloud even for a little older elementary kids, I think.