JACK AND THE BEAN TREE

by Gail E. Haley ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 4, 1986

Joseph Jacobs' ""Jack and the Beanstalk"" is retold and illustrated with a southern Appalachian setting, by the only artist to win both the Caldecott and Greenaway Medals. Haley's variation on the familiar text is in the best storytelling tradition. Framed within a story about mountain neighbors gathering to hear a master teller, the central tale is artfully embellished with incident, characterization, and regional cadence that add humor and local color while respecting the boundaries of the original. It begs to be shared aloud. And the author's bold illustrations, painted on wood in brilliant tones, are also suitable to share with a group--although closer examination reveals careful attention to a wealth of detail, from the voluptuous vegetation that dances and twines across the pages to the chaotic, overabundant feast magically produced for the giant. The faces, whether Mother's, monstrous giant's (the kids will love this one), dark giant's wife's in cornrows or towhead Jack's, are variants on one face, Haley's own--a suggestion that we are all one, whether good or bad, real or fantastic. A fine tribute to Appalachia's heritage of story; a treasure to share.

Pub Date: June 4, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1986

Categories: CHILDREN'S