Kate and the Beanstalk

By Mary Pope Osborne

Book Overview

Mary Pope Osborne and Giselle Potter's funny, magical retelling of a favorite fairy tale featuring Kate, a new and inspiring heroine.

Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum'un,
I smell the blood of an Englishwoman.
Be she alive or be she dead,
I'll grind her bones to make my bread.

Readers will cheer on the resourceful, gutsy Kate as she outsmarts the famously greedy giant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689825501
• ISBN13: 9780689825507
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.8" x 12.1"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Great book!

I am writing mainly to disagree with the reviewer who thought that the "resourceful girl" aspect of the story is a bit forced. I disagree totally! This is a very graceful adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk, and the ending is much more satisfying to me than the ending of the traditional story. It does not read like a feminist diatribe but like a delightful fairy-tale.I agree that "fee-fi-fo-fum'un" is a stretch, but I see this as funny rather than forced. So does my daughter. Moreover, I expect that the author intended it to be funny. My daughter loves the Steven Kellogg version of Jack & the Beanstalk, and I agree with her. It is one of our most-often-read titles. But after reading Kate and the Beanstalk, she says she likes it better.

Fantastic retelling of old story--gorgeously illustrated

This book is a favorite in our household and both my daughter and my son love it. The story is retold in such a way that it actually "makes sense." It is exciting--but never overly scary. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. They remind me of Modigliani in their simplicity and grace. If you think all children's books should be illustrated in the "Disney-style" then you may not like this one, but I found the style both unusual and lovely. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with children aged 4-10.

Kate and the Beanstalk

What a GREAT story for a girl! Kate, unlike Jack, is a brave girl out to right the wrong done by the giant. Unlike the original version, Kate is taking back what the giant stole and returning it to its rightful owner. A great role model and a positive message that girls can be brave and fabulous!

There's a New Heroine in Town...

... and her name is Kate. This terrific new spin on the old "Jack and the Beanstalk" story is fresh and exciting. While the old version was fun, I always felt a little uncomfortable rooting for a protagonist who was a sneaky, shiftless thief. "Kate" retains the adventure of the old story with a twist -- instead of committing larceny, our heroine is retrieving stolen property from the giant who swiped them from a poor, starving widow. Best of all, the illustrations are gorgeous, and evocative of the best folk art. Boys and girls alike will welcome the spunky Kate into their pantheon of fairy tale favorites.

Kate and the Beanstalk

It's not quite the same old Jack and the Beanstalk". Oh the basic story is still the same, but instead of lazy "Jack", our heroine is smart, resourceful Kate.I did like Mary Pope Osborne's retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, but it's Giselle Potter's vibrant illustrations that really make my beans grow. And it is nice to see a smart girl be the "hero" for a change.