Reviews for Kate and the Beanstalk

The average rating for Kate and the Beanstalk based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-08-11 00:00:00 Tony Blevins An enjoyable retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" this time with a heroine. It's not an annoyingly PC version, just a "Kate" rather than a "Jack" This is based on a different version of the tale than the one I grew up with, so I liked the "surprise" ending! :-) I probably would have given this more stars if I'd liked the illustrations better--as it was, they kind of ruined the mood of the story, but that is just personal taste.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-02-05 00:00:00 Katie Smith This feminist twist on the traditional tale of Jack and the Beanstalk really resonanted with me. I think this would so excellent to be included in a classroom for girls, and boys, to experience the idea that yes, girls can be heroines, even against great odds. In this version, written by Mary Pope Obsorne and illustrated by Gisele Potter in sort of a Picasso way (I can't remember what period of his artistic life), the opening endpages lead you right to the heart of the story - the castle. How she disguises herself and the drawings that show those are just delightful! The way the story is laid out in text is really strong and different from the original version: the words become alive - i.e. see the pages each time Jane reaches the castle. I think this would be a great educational tool for younger grades, so that the students hear more than one possibility. But as a writing, illustrating, assignment, it could mentor the older students to create their own version and story line: the only rule being that they have to stay within the basic lines of the tale. That could be a really rich creative avenue! all ages.