The Giant and the Beanstalk

by Diane Stanley

Book Overview

For a giant, Otto is embarrassingly polite. While all the other giants are studying Cursing, Growling, and Stomping, Otto just wants to play with his pet hen, Clara. Then one terrible day a wily human... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060000104
• ISBN13: 9780060000103
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.4" x 11.2"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A Clever and Sweet Fractured Fairytale

In yet another parody of a well-known fairytale, Diane Stanley tells the classic Jack and the beanstalk story from the gentle giant's perspective. The Giant and the Beanstalk tells of Otto, a kind, loving soul whose favorite pet chicken is stolen. Otto is heartbroken and desperately begins to search for Jack and his hen. After encounters with nearly all the children's rhyme Jacks, Otto finds the correct Jack and makes a trade that leaves both parties quite happy. The giant world reexamines their values and learns from meek Otto's loving example. Stanley is able to tell of Otto's quest with a unique and admirable amount of suspense, considering, of course, that this is a children's book. Her style weaves clever references to various nursery rhyme characters with an earnest giant's search to create a charming tale. The dialogue is believable and completely natural; some of the characters that Otto meets are friendly, others are fearful, but all speak in an unaffected, straightforward manner. The interesting point of view shift will intrigue readers who know the original version well; the giant is too often cruel, mindless, and demanding, and Jack becomes a hero for his thievery. Stanley's adaptation acknowledges that Jack wrongs another being with genuine feelings in his quest to remedy his family's poverty. Otto has a history, a personality, and a problem. He is no longer the flat character that the original version of this tale portrays him. The artwork too, will endear children to the book. Stanley slyly slips many references of the other Jacks into the pictures, as well as the text. The page containing the Jack that built the house contains all the elements of that particular rhyme, up to the sack of malt and priest in background. The cartoon style drawings also fit this tale well. The playfulness of the story is ideal for such artwork. Finally, some observant children will note the magic bean at the top of each box containing the text of the story, another clever addition to the book. The Giant and the Beanstalk by Diane Stanley is a well-written and well thought out story that children are sure to enjoy. The pictures and funny retelling will undoubtedly garner many young fans.

The Giant and the Beanstalk

Clever. This new twist on Jack and the Beanstalk gives children the other point of view. Was the giant really mean and nasty? This book keeps the reader on his toes by painting the familar fairytale in another light. I like how the giant had to go through five other Jack characters to find the one who climbed the beanstalk. This would be a great book to share in a classroom who is already familar with the traditional story and nursery rhymes involving the Jack characters. This could create a great conversation.

Or "A tale of five or six Jacks"

If you like the Stinky Cheese Man, you will love this book. Now, at last, the untold story behind the well-known tale of Jack and the Beanstalk is finally revealed. No, the giant is not really a blood-thirsty monster who wants to eat Jack, and no, he doesn't have the hen because he is greedy. Otto is that rare, gentle giant (although possibly not the brigthest). To recover his precious hen, Otto travels through five or six different fairy tales in search of the elusive Jack. Older readers will recognize the "other" Jacks immediately, and everyone will get a chuckle out of the giant's quest. A fun version of an old story, which gives new meaning to the phrase "...and they lived happily ever after."

A Giant Pleasure to Read

I thought that this book was really cute. Although I am a little old for it, I loved it! Otto was really funny and his quest to save clara the hen was really sweet. It shows the giant's side of the story instead of the one we usually hear. I happened to really like this book, and fairy tales and classics really aren't my thing. This book was right up my alley. My dad dislikes kids books and classics, and he thought that this story was as cute as he's ever read. My little brother hates reading, but he reads this book all the time, around three times a day. We found out about this book from the teacher at my brother's school because she wanted him to read. He loved it, and had me read it to him a few times. THIS IS THE BEST SORT OF CLASSIC I HAVE EVER READ IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!