Jack and the Beanstalk by Richard Walker

illustrated by Niamh Sharkey 

Traditional Literature 

Jack and the Beanstalk by Richard Walker

This retelling of a traditional story puts a bit of a twist on the ending, but the plot line is similar to most other Jack and the Beanstalk books. It tells the story of a poor boy who receives magical seeds that grow into a large beanstalk up to the clouds overnight. In the clouds, Jack discovers a huge castle with plenty of food and riches, along with a terrible giant. In the end, Jack narrowly escapes from the giant’s reach and sends the giant flying into space, never to be heard from again. This softer ending is a lot like other modern versions of traditional literature which are toned down from their original, more graphic endings. 

I think this book and other versions of it are great for young elementary and preschool aged children. It is a fun and entertaining book for students that could be used as a read aloud. If I had a younger class or worked in preschool, I would definitely read this book and allow students to interact with it as we read due to it’s somewhat predictable plot line. I also really enjoyed the illustrations, I think those are what elevated this version of the book. 


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