It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk

by Josh Funk, Edwardian Taylor (Illustrator)

Overview

”When I was a kid, my best friend was Josh Funk. Now he’s becoming a friend to a whole new generation.” —B.J. Novak, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Book with No Pictures

Jack is not fond of the bossy narrator of his fairy tale! When Jack is told to trade his beloved cow Bessie for some magic beans, throw the beans out the window, climb the ENORMOUS beanstalk that sprouts overnight, and steal from a GIANT, he decides this fairy tale is getting out of control. In fact, he doesn’t want to follow the story line at all. Who says Jack needs to enter a life of daring, thievery, and giant trickery? He takes his story into his own hands—and you’ll never guess what happens next!

With laugh-out-loud dialogue and bold, playful art (including hidden fairy tale creatures for kids to find), this Jack and the Beanstalk retelling will have children rolling with laughter till Bessie the cow comes home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781542045650
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	09/19/2017
Series:	It's Not a Fairy Tale , #1
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Like Jack, Josh Funk loves telling his own stories. He is the author of the popular picture books Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast and its sequel, The Case of the Stinky Stench, illustrated by Brendan Kearney; Dear Dragon, illustrated by Rodolfo Montalvo; and Pirasaurs!, illustrated by Michael Slack. Josh lives in New England with his wife and children. Learn more about him at www.joshfunkbooks.com, and follow him on Twitter @joshfunkbooks.

Editorial Reviews

Youngsters will readily respond to this playful if sophisticated perspective…” —Kirkus Reviews

“Jaunty, brightly colored cartoon illustrations created with digital media flawlessly convey the action put forth in the laugh-inducing text. In the land of fractured fairy tales, Jack and Fred hold their own.” —Booklist

“Once again, Josh Funk delivers something new, a little quirky, and absolutely engaging!” —Literary Fusions

“No child (or adult for that matter) is too old to enjoy an awesome picture book like this one.” —CeCeLibrarian

“A hilarious fusion of a modern boy in a classic fairy tale.” —Flowering Minds

“If you think you’re bored to tears with the same old ordinary everyday fairy tales, give this one a spin! It’s utterly magical!” —Read It, Daddy!

“This version of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ is very well done and VERY VERY fun.” —A Year of Reading

“This book is hysterical…I love the way that Josh Funk has broken the fourth wall…Such a unique way to twist the fairy tale.” —Unleashing Readers

“Add this book to your collection of ‘fractured’ fairy tales! Overall, it is just a ton of fun!” —The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog

“This is a story you can’t read just once!” —Literacious

“As soon as you begin, you can already hear the laughter of readers and listeners.” —Librarian’s Quest

“Kids are going to enjoy the fun twists and smart humor this book offers us.” —Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

“First and most of all, this is such a fun and funny read. Your day will instantly improve after reading it. If you use it as a read-aloud, you can count on having to read it more than once. But there are also several teaching opportunities available here. The back-and-forth between Jack and the narrator is terrific. This story would help teachers be able to explicitly talk about the role of a narrator and teach a point of view mini-lesson.” —NC Teacher Stuff

“A delightful look at the true meaning of friendship.” —Cracking the Cover

“There is much fun to be had with this book as a read-aloud, making it a delightful addition to both home and classroom libraries.” —5 Minutes for Books

“Funk has put a slightly cheeky but totally realistic spin on the classic character, Jack. Now he’s relatable, hilarious, and pretty lovable, too. Supporting this new storyline are super fun and colorful illustrations, exaggerating character emotions and adding to the humor of it all.” —Literary Hoots

“It is a very fun take on the story, and Jack is a piece of work. I think adults will definitely appreciate the humor…and elementary-age children will find Jack’s antics to be very silly.” —Booking Mama

“Loaded with fairy tale references—keep a sharp eye and ask your readers to point them out as they see them—and fun, cartoony digital art…An essential to fractured fairy tale collections.” —Mom Read It

“This is another fun retelling for me to add to my growing collection. It’s fun to compare original fairy tales with fractured ones. And when the illustrations complement the humor as well as these do, well that is icing on the cake.” —GeoLibrarian

“It’s all good, silly fun that children are likely to love…[The] illustrations are whimsical and funny.” —Mother Daughter Book Club

“The giggles were endless!” —Where Imagination Grows

From the Publisher

2017-06-27
As the title indicates, this is not "Jack and the Beanstalk," at least not quite as you know it. A narrator attempts to tell the traditional tale, but Jack is very much in the leading role. In his dismay over his dismal situation, Jack can't keep his comments to himself. He directly appeals to the storyteller, questioning and challenging every lousy turn of events. "But Bessie's my best friend!" Jack protests when forced to sell his cow. In disbelief over the trade he's supposed to make, he exclaims: "Five beans? That stinks!" And when the text relates that he throws them out the window, he objects: "But I'm SO hungry! Can't I eat one?" Youngsters will readily respond to this playful if sophisticated perspective wherein Jack repeatedly breaks the wall to address the storyteller. The giggles increase as Jack's remarks provoke responses from the narrator. Gradually, Jack starts talking to the other characters in the book until he effectively shuts out the narrator and grabs control of the action. The characters' commentary appears in color-coded speech bubbles: Jack's in green, the giant's in ochre, Cindy's (Cinderella) in pink. In fact, children will find a host of fairy-land denizens. Cartoon-style art in garish colors and characters drawn with comically off-kilter features emphasize the absurdity of the story. The primary cast is all white. All's well that ends well in this fractured tale of a boy who knows a thing or two about self-determination. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews