Jack and the Beanstalk

Kellogg, Steven.  Jack and the Beanstalk.  New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1991. Print.

There once was a widow that had a son named Jack and a cow named Milky-White.  One day Milky-White stopped providing milk so there was no milk to sell at the market.  The decision is made to sell Milky-White.  On the way to the market Jack meets a man with whom he trades the cow for five beans.  Jack's mother is not happy with Jack's decision and tosses the beans out the window.  The next morning Jack finds the beanstalk, climbs and arrives at the ogre's house.  The ogre's wife feeds Jack, but Jack has to quickly hid when the ogre arrives.  Jack goes to the ogres' house several times, escaping the ogre each time and with a bag of gold, a hen that lays golden eggs and a golden harp.  Jack narrowly escapes the ogre the last time, but does get away.  Jack and his mother become rich and Jack marries a princess.

Cultural Origins:

This story has English origins.  According to the author's note, this story is based on the story with the same title found in English Fairy Tales, which was edited by Joseph Jacobs in 1889.  This version was told to Jacobs in Australia around 1860.

Audience:

This is a tale that can be enjoyed and appreciated by all ages, children and adults in library and school settings.

Adaptations:

Adaptations can be made based on the audience.  If I were telling to children I probably would not include Jack marrying a princess at the end.  With an older audience I may use an ogre character, and a younger audience a giant.  Another adaptation could be the level of help that Jack receives from the ogre/giant's wife.  She could play a major role in helping Jack to hide or she might be instrumental in assisting her husband in searching for Jack.