'Jack and the Beanstalk' by E. Nesbit is a rich retelling of the traditional Grimm's fairy tale, 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. This author cleverly weaves this story to include the reader in the adventures of a foolish boy who sells his family's only procession, a cow, for a handful of beautiful beans. The plot is predictable but the enriched story and illustrations spin a magic all their own.

Similar authors: Amanda Askew; Candance Fleming; H.C. Andersen; Steven Kellogg

Similar books: Grimm's Fairy Tales by Deanna McFadden; A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz; Little Red Riding Hood by Gennadii Spirin; Jacques and de beanstalk by Mike Artell; The Pied Piper's Magic by Steven Kellogg; Jack and the Beanstalk: The graphic novel by B.A. Hocna

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/27/2011

ISBN-10: 0763621242

ISBN-13: 9780763621247

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This is the third edition of this classic collection first published in 1953. Here you will meet 'Peach Boy,' a one inch tall child who was found by a childless couple as he floated down the river inside the stone of a peach. Also meet the kind man and his foolish wife, who each get what they deserve from the 'Tongue-Cut Sparrow.' These and the other stories in the collection have bright new illustrations to bring them to life.

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 8/4/2010

ISBN-10: 0804834490

ISBN-13: 9780804834490

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Those familiar with Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series will love her retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Kate is a bit impulsive when it comes to decision-making. Blindly trading her family's cow and last hope for food away for the promise of some mysterious magic beans, Kate returns home excited. She is shocked when her mother throws the beans out the window. Kate finds a beanstalk towering to the sky that night, and she begins to climb. At the top, an old woman asks her to right the wrongs done to an innocent family. To do so, Kate must use all her cleverness against a fierce giant who could eat her in an instant.

Similar books: Sleeping Bobby by Mary Pope Osborne and Will Osborne

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 7/22/2010

ISBN-10: 0689825501

ISBN-13: 9780689825507

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This is a Chinese version of the tale which later became famous in the West as Puss-in-Boots. Li Ming guards his pomegranate tree so proudly that his neighbors laughingly call him King Pom. When Li Ming catches a fox trying to steal his pomegranates the fox promises to make him rich if he will only let him go. Will this crafty fox make good on his promise?

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 7/13/2009

ISBN-10: 1845074785

ISBN-13: 9781845074784

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A retelling of Grimm's fairy tale 'The Singing, Springing Lark,' which combines 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon.' A merchant's daughter keeps her father's promise and goes to live with a lion, finding a bewitched prince. Next he is changed into a dove and she follows him for 7 years, then joins forces with him to defeat the enchantress once and for all. Lush paintings set this fairy tale in a medieval world full of blooming gardens and mythical beasts.

Similar books: The Nutcracker by Stephanie Spinner, The Wild Swans by H.C. Andersen

Reviewed by: djd

Date read: 7/7/2009

ISBN-13: 0000803726511

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