Oh, that interminable, lovable dunderhead Jack. With nothing left in the cupboard, his mother sends him out to sell the cow, and what does Jack return with? That"s right. Six puny beans. Magic beans, according to the funny little man who made the trade with Jack. In a huff, Jack"s mom tosses them out the window. The rest is history. A beanstalk grows to the sky; Jack climbs to the land of the clouds; a goose lays golden eggs; a giant rages, "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum!"... you may know the story, but you"ve never seen a version like this before! Professional storyteller Richard Walker retells the classic tale with an extra measure of nonsense and rakish humor, as when the bean barterer explains that although he knows the beans are magic, he"s not quite sure what they do: he"s lost the instructions for them. Award-winning illustrator Niamh Sharkey presents unique, quirky images of Jack and the rest of the gang that will quickly replace any traditional mental pictures readers may have been nursing until now. This creative team has laid a golden egg. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter