Jack
The (Fairly) True Tale of Jack and the Beanstalk
by Liesl Shurtliff
Grades 3-5; Genre - Fables/Fairy Tales; GRL S; AR pts. 10.0
This tale relates the story of Jack, who, after trading his mother's milk cow for magic beans, climbs a beanstalk to search for his missing father in the land of giants.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Describe Jack. He’s 12 years old, constantly gets into trouble, wants adventure instead of working on the farm, named after his 7-greats-grandfather who, as legend says, was a giant killer p.1
- Why is it significant that dirt fell in Jack’s eyes? It supported what Jaber said, if it starts raining dirt, Jack should run because the giants are coming into Jack’s world p.12
Chapter 2
- Summarize this chapter. Giants came down from the sky and ravaged the farm, taking whatever they wanted; they also took Jack’s dad p.14
Chapter 3
- Describe the sight Jack saw in town. The town was gone, desolate; the giants tore up the buildings and took everything and everyone p.28
Chapter 4
- Compare the events in this chapter to the real fairy tale. Are they similar? Jack sold the cow to a peddler for magic beans; yes p.37
Chapter 5
- What did the author mean on page 46, “The seed has been planted and the idea was growing in her.”? Jack’s mother was getting used to the idea that there may really be giants p.46
Chapter 6
- Why do you think the plants are all dying? Listen to your child’s answer p.58
Chapter 7
- List the dangers Jack needed to watch for in this chapter? Wood with splinters and nails, hot wax, a cat, giant p.64
Chapter 8
- Describe Mum Martha. Giantess who is kind and loving; has another little boy named Tom Thumb; treats the boys as her own; is happy to have them since her son grew up and moved away; is a cook for the king; works all day p.69
- Were you correct in your assumption of why the plants are dying? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer; there’s a famine in the land p.74
Chapter 9
- What world is Jack in and how do you know? Red’s, Grump’s and Rump’s; the king has the same name, there are pixies and messenger gnomes p.85
- Describe Tom. Fun; same age as Jack; likes the same things as Jack p.87
Chapter 10
- What did Jack learn in this chapter? The queen’s brothers come down to his world to steal food, animals, people and buildings; Jack’s father might be with them p.95
Chapter 11
- Describe Bruno. Giant; Sir Bluberys is teaching him how to be brave; one of the giants that goes to Jack’s world; Bruno doesn’t like stealing food from the elves; afraid of pixies; has a big brother whose mean to him p.106
Chapter 12
- What did Jack learn in this chapter? His father is alive and just left in a shoe to the castle p.125
Chapter 13
- How did the cobbler’s elves treat Jack? Why? Like a prisoner; they wouldn’t let him leave the table; they feared he would die p.130
Chapter 14
- Summarize this chapter. Jack found that Annabella climbed the bean stalk; he agreed that she could stay in the giant world; as they made their way up the road toward the castle a giant toad caught her with its tongue and carried her off p.137
Chapter 15
- How did Jack and Annabella escape the toad? The toad jumped after a fish and Bells jumped into the water; Jack grabbed her skirt and pulled her to him; they covered themselves with leaves and dead grass until the toad left p.153
Chapter 16
- Describe Annabella. She’s 4 years younger than Jack; friendly and helpful; knows how to take care of Jack; smart and wise; thinks quickly in difficult situations p.158
Chapter 17
- How did Jack get into the castle? He hopped onto a wagon wheel that took him to the castle; he hopped onto Bruno and Frederick’s wagon that took him inside p.174
Chapter 18
- Why did Tom get upset when Jack accused him of not caring about his dad? He did care; Tom hasn’t talked about his dad; we’re not sure what happened to him p.193
Chapter 19
- What convinced Queen Opal to help the elves? She told them her story and she felt bad they had lost their father p.202
Chapter 20
- Define kindling. Small sticks or twigs used for starting a fire p.218
- How is the king going to punish Tom and Jack? Use them as kindling p.218
Chapter 21
- Summarize this chapter. Jack and Tom were thrown into the dungeon to smash the gold eggs and make them into coins; when the king lifted up the coins, he threw down food and Jack found his father by fighting over an apple p.219
Chapter 22
- Describe King Barf. His full name is King Bartholomew Archibald Reginald Fife; very selfish, very greedy, only cares about gold, doesn’t care about his queen or child, mean, angry p.236
Chapter 23
- How is Jack like his grandpa in this chapter? He noticed the small things, the seeds; he figured out the yolks in the golden eggs were seeds p.244
Chapter 24
- Why didn’t anyone believe Sir Bluberys? The things he said weren’t always believable p.250
- Predict Jack’s plan to save the two worlds. Listen to your child’s answer. p.260
Chapter 25
- Were you correct in your prediction? What did Jack do? Stole the chicken, but now he needs to deal with King Barf p.270
Chapter 26
- How did Jack defeat King Barf? Encouraged him to eat the golden eggs; because of the seeds in the golden eggs, plants grew inside and out of him 277
Chapter 27
- Summarize this chapter. Tommy is reunited with his father, Jaber p.285
Epilogue
- How did Jack grow in this story? Listen to your child’s answer; matured, realized that his family was important to him, realized that his sister has specific strengths that he doesn’t have