Jack and the Beanstalk

Not knowing anything about the history of this book or how it was created (until reading other reviews here), I just read this to a group of Kindergartners as a volunteer during rainy day recess. Starting with just one child listening, the group grew and grew (like Jack's beanstalk?) as the story progressed... with many children hovering around the book by the end. The kids who know the classic story like the differences here -- with Jack's going underwater, into the sky, and into the mountains. They loved the different characters (each having a different voice upon reading) as well... and at the end, they liked reliving the story through the gifts that Jack brings to his mom. The children even asked to have it read again. I'd say it was a hit!

This is a book my child's reads every day. This a new spin on the old favorite I grow up with. This book teaches a new moral by using Jack to tell the story.

For those who watch "The Apprentice". They know exactly what this book is. It is a book that was written and illustrated within a 24 hour time frame by a team of people vying to become the next apprentice. It is what it is and I would not recommend it to anyone who does not follow the show. Our family watches the show religeously and at the end of the show when they mentioned the book was available for sale our kids jumped up and down and wanted it. My wife and I initially told the kids we would think about it and then I decided to go ahead and order it. I didn't tell my wife or kids. They were so surprised when it arrived and when I got home that day they were hopping up and down for me to read it to them which I did. And I agree it is not going to be the next Huckleberry Fin or Cat in the Hat. I dare say those books took months maybe even years of writing and re-writing before they were exactly what the authors wanted. This book by nature of the "task" the team was given had to be written overnight. So of course it's not going to be the greatest prose. The lesson taught in the book I will admit is somewhat feeble at best. The kids love it because they saw it created on the show.