Synopsis

Jacqueline may be foolish enough to swap the family cow for a magic bean. But, it would never occur to her to rob a giant of his treasures. Now she has two hungry families to feed. She must discover the true magic of the beans.

Many of the mishaps in folktales could be remedied if the protagonists knew some scientific principles. Children like seeing familiar stories told with a twist. And they like science when it is presented as fun.

This is the fourth book in the Science Folktales series.

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Review

This is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk but with a little science knowledge built into the story. I enjoyed watching Jacqueline learn about the beans, making bargains, the consequences of the wrong decision, and that not all giants are bad.

The illustrations depict the story and are colorful to engage a young reader. A parent could discuss many different aspects of the story with a young child to encourage decision making and communication.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Lois Wickstrom earned her BA in biology with Chemistry and English minors. She is the creator of the Imagenie videos on YouTube and “Starting With Safety” available from the American Chemical Society. She also co-authored the Nessie’s Grotto Books with Jean Lorrah, and the Orange Forest Rabbit books with Lucrecia Darling.

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