Fearsome Giant, Fearless Child: A Worldwide Jack and the Beanstalk Story

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Description

The story of a child confronting a man-eating giant or witch is told the world over. These heroes go by many names and might be normal in size or no bigger than a thumb. Though they're often scorned for being the youngest and smallest, they're well-armed with cleverness and courage. In this companion to Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal, Paul Fleischman and Julie Paschkis combine elements of this story from different traditions-Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Thumb, Kihuo, Vasilisa-to create one narrative, one complete picture of a small boy's triumph. Godwin Books

Reviews

"This collaboration offers a kaleidoscopic presentation of the traditional boy and giant story by collaging text fragments from different cultures' tellings. . . These shifting elements alchemically coalesce into a sturdy plot in which the littlest and least-regarded triumphs." -- Publishers Weekly

"The story is brimming with tension and adventure . . . an excellent addition to storytelling and fairy-tale collections." --School Library Journal

Author Bio

Paul Fleischman won a Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise and a Newbery Honor for Graven Images. He is also the author of young adult novels including Whirligig and The Mind's Eye, and middle-grade novels including Bull Run and Seedfolks. He lives with his wife in northern California. Julie Paschkis is a painter and award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People, Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudi, and Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella. A love of pattern and of folk art shows in all her work. She lives in Seattle, Washington.