Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel (Graphic Spin)
Frequent children’s graphic novelist Blake A. Hoena (Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 2008; Ooze Slingers from Outer Space, 2007) offers this new version of the oft-told classic. He elegantly simplifies and streamlines an already fast-paced tale, producing a very crisp version. This allows Ricardo Tercio (Spider-Man Fairy Tales, 2007) to imbue the story with multiple levels through his flexible figures and somber palette. The giant, with his blazing orange eyes and angry, malleable face, presents an age-appropriate sense of menace, and Jack exudes the energy of a young boy, always poised for action even when sitting still. With just a dash of slapstick humor and the tale’s inherent suspense, this is a grand opportunity to introduce young kids to the graphic format through a story they are already familiar with; those who already follow their favorite superheroes in comics will see the vast range of possibilities in sequential art. To help with classroom use, there is a glossary, brief history of the tale, discussion questions, writing prompts, and suggested Internet sites. Grades K-2. --Jesse Karp--This text refers to theLibrary Bindingedition.