#227 of 1001 · March 15, 2021

Here is the second entry in my Jack and the Beanstalk series, a lighthearted version by John Cech and Robert Mackenzie. Cech takes certain liberties with the plot, most notably allowing the giant to live (his rage at being trapped in the clouds providing an etiological explanation for thunder) while his amiable wife escapes to live a peaceful life as the best friend of Jack’s mother. Mackenzie’s art achieves a soft, painterly glow with strong use of light and shadow throughout. A note for folklore enthusiasts: the back matter provides a breadth of possibilities for further explanation, including an outline of Jack’s lineage as a recurring character in British folklore and expansions upon specific elements such as tricksters outwitting giants and miraculous climbs toward the heavens. #jack #beanstalk #jackandthebeanstalk #giant #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks