One morning Jim...not Jack....wakes up to find an enormous beanstalk has sprouted over night and is growing and growing and growing just outside his window. Jim does what any self-respecting child would do...he climbs the stalk to see where it will take him. Surprise... a giant is waiting up at the top.
Where Jack found a frightening, ferocious giant when he reached the top of his beanstalk, our Jim finds a toothless, elderly giant who has no hair. Things aren't going so well for our giant. Jim shares a beefsteak breakfast with the fellow and then decides to help him out. New glasses so he can see, a curly red haired wig to hide his baldness and some new false teeth so he can eat better. Wait, eat better?
Will our fellow stay mellow? This is a fractured fairy tale folks so our giant is going to begin feeling like himself again and just might fancy a fried boy sandwich! Run for it Jim.
Entertaining and happily requiring some math measurement skills so we can go across the curriculum with a good story.
48 pages 978-0698115774 Ages 4-8
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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"What if Jack wasn't the only one to climb the beanstalk? Raymond Briggs brings a new generation to an old tale with humor, math, and imagination.
After discovering a beanstalk growing outside of his window one morning, Jim decides to do what any person in a similar situation would do—he climbs it. At the top he finds the unexpected: a castle and a giant in need of a friend. Children and adults alike will enjoy this fresh take on a classic story."---from the publisher
