The Fort That Jack Built

by Boni Ashburn, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

Overview

In this imaginative interpretation of the nursery rhyme “The House That Jack Built,” young Jack builds an amazing fort in the middle of the living room, using the chairs, blankets, and other objects on hand.

Unfortunately, those objects belong to his family members, so when they want their things back—there goes the walls and roof! Jack struggles to keep his fortress going as it crumbles piece by piece. Finally, Grandma saves the day with her quilts for a sweet, satisfying ending filled with family fun.

Boni Ashburn’s text is brought to life by acclaimed illustrator Brett Helquist, whose lively style takes this tale beyond the living room and into the world of adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419707957
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/03/2013
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Boni Ashburn is a mother of twins and the bestselling author of I Had a Favorite Dress, The Fort That Jack Built, Hush, Little Dragon, and Over at the Castle. She lives in Houghton, Michigan.


Brett Helquist is the illustrator of the Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, and many other novels. He’s also illustrated several picture books. He lives in Brooklyn.

Editorial Reviews

2013-08-15
Small Jack makes a fort in the living room with a number of household items that the rest of his family needs back. The text moves to the rhythm of the familiar rhyme, resting on a repeated final line about the dog that "almost collapsed the fort that Jack built." For Jack has built his fort with the dog's leash, the pillows from upstairs, a pile of books and chairs belonging to other members of his family. First the dog tries to tug it down. Then Jack's big sister takes back her chair, his brother takes back his whole pile of books, and his elder sister, wearing a very large bath towel, retrieves the shower curtain. And so on. Finally, though, Grandma finds a way to keep cozy under her quilt and allow Jack some free rein, too, although it's punctuated with a very clear message about sharing. The rich but retro color palette, using oils on a digital print, emphasizes the static quality of the images, even when Jack is shouting. Family roles are static too: Jack's mother is first seen with a broom, then moves to making the beds (sigh), while Jack's dad is intent on the flat-screen. Jack's knight action figures conduct byplay of their own in various scenes, providing some visual interest. Alas, no substitute for a real pretend fort. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews