Jack and The Beanstalk

We are starting a new series featuring TALES! The classic tales we know and love got their start around evening fires back when storytelling was truly an art. There were no printing presses, the common person was illiterate anyway, and so the long evenings were spent spinning tales. Contrary to popular belief, the Brothers Grimm didn’t write these stories, but rather collected them from people and cultures over time. These are the kind of stories you can read over and over again and find something new to love each time.

To start off this four-part series, I give you Jack and the Beanstalk! This “tall” tale is full of danger, adventure, and a mischievous little hero. Because of the nature of tales, countless variations can be found with interesting twists. I suggest going to your local library and checking out all the versions you can find! (that’s what I did, and I maxed out my limit of books allowed!)

Some variations you may encounter along the way:
*How or why Jack acquires the beans
*The type of animal laying the golden eggs (or maybe no golden eggs at all!)
*Other treasures held by the giant
*How many giants there are
*What happens to the giant at the end

If you’d like to purchase this particular title from Usborne Books & More, click here. I’ve also written a coordinating Reading lesson plan!

Some different version you may wish to explore at your local library (*Starred books are my personal picks!)

Beauty and the Beast and Jack and the Beanstalk from Windmill Books
Jack and the Beanstalk, retold by John Cech and Illustrated by Robert Mackenzie
The Land of Stories, by Chris Colfer, Illustrated by Brandon Dorman
Jack and the Beanstalk, by Nina Crews
Jack and the Beanstalk, Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
*Calamity Jack, by Shannon and Dean Hale, Illustrated by Nathan Hale (graphic novel)
Jack and the Jellybeanstalk, by Joan Holub, Illustrated by Benton Mahan
Jack and the Beanstalk, Retold and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
The Red Fairy Book, Edited by Andrew Lang
*Kate and the Beanstalk, by Mary Pope Osborne, Illustrated by Giselle Potter
The Giant and the Beanstalk, by Diane Stanley
*Jack and the Baked Beanstalk, by Colin Stimpson

(The links above are affiliate links, which means I earn commission when you use them. Thank you for your support!)

To see inside the book, check out my video on YouTube!