Jack and the Beanstalk
retold by Michael Rosen
illustrated by Talleen Hacikiyan
Tradewind Books, 2025
ISBN 978-1-9268-90425 $24.95, 28 pp, ages 4 – 10
tradewindbooks.com
This retelling of the popular folk tale is simple and unembellished, making it easily accessible for early readers. The format is consistent throughout, with the story printed in large font on the left-hand pages and illustrations on the right. Although this story of Jack’s climb up the beanstalk and his confrontation with the giant is always a delight to read, the illustrations in this book also create a sumptuous artistic journey for the reader. The illustrations are painted on black backgrounds, and the colours of the depicted scenes stand out vividly. The illustrator uses simple colourful figures for the people in the story, displayed against an intricate background of finely veined leaves and curving vines. One striking example is an illustration of a tree trunk with three bare branches, one on which Jack’s bright orange-red hat with its blue ribbon and feather serves to highlight Jack’s mad descent down the vine. The author tells the story dramatically, using numerous exclamations such as “Hurry, scurry!” “Boom! Boom! Boom!” and “Master! Master! Help me! Help me!” to provide a sense of urgency to the narrative. This book will delight all those familiar with the story and be a favourite among those who haven’t heard it before.
Classroom Connections: This story lends itself to dramatic interpretation with students working in partners to recreate a particular scene, to create a “tableau” by posing in a still image of a particular scene, or to act out a thirty-second segment of the story. Another fun, dramatic activity is for students to choose a character and do a short burst of dialogue in character. For example, being the mother who discovers that Jack sold the cow for magic beans, or being Jack, yelling for his mother to bring the axe. Keeping the segments very short, emphasizing facial expression, body language, and vocal tone, means the activity doesn’t need excessive rehearsal. The illustrations could inspire students to use bright colours on black backgrounds and explore various techniques for depicting plants, particularly vines and leaves. The translucent, veined leaves shown could prompt printmaking with diluted paint and textured leaves.
Review by Betty Schultze.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Spring 2026 issue.
