Parents' Guide to A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack

Book William Joyce Picture Book 2014
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Common Sense Media Review

Jan Carr By Jan Carr , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 3+

Funny, fractured version of "Jack and the Beanstalk."

Parents Need to Know

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What's the Story?

A BEAN, A STALK AND A BOY NAMED JACK starts out with "a smallish green bean" and "a smallish kid with the smallish name of Jack." When a drought plagues the kingdom, the king's daughter appeals to "the local old wizard guy," who uses some of his "magicking" to zap the bean. The bean instructs Jack to plant it, and soon there's a giant beanstalk. But in this version, when Jack scales the stalk, he arrives not at the home of a menacing giant, but in the tub of a giant kid taking a bath. No fee-fi-fo-fum scariness here! When the giant kid drains the tub, Jack and the bean ride the wave of water back down to the kingdom, and the torrent of bath water tumbles down with them, resolving the drought. Then Jack and the princess, whose name just happens to be Jill, go up a hill to fetch a pail of water.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Kids who like their fairy tales fractured will have lots of fun with this one. Early on, the language signals that the book is for laughs: "Did it look like a bean that would make a difference? Did it look like a bean of destiny? HARDLY!"

Jack himself is described as "no great shakes." And the princess's name is "Princess Blah Blah Blah" -- at least until the end of the story, when she tells Jack, "But you can call me Jill," propelling them into another tale altogether: "Jack and Jill." Kids will enjoy being in on the joke.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the original fairy tale and how A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack is different. Are you familiar with the original? Read a version of that one, too. Which story elements are the same? How is this one different?

  • How is the style of the narration in this story different from the style of a traditional tale? Can you find examples?

  • What would you do to save water if there was a water shortage where you live?

Book Details

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