Jack and the beanstalk

Cauley's stunning oil paintings and Galdone's spirited line and wash offer two evenly matched versions; the first told in fluid contemporary style, the latter in folksy verse. In addition, Briggs' large proportions aptly fit his contemporary ``sequel'' that begs chuckles; Cole's tongue-in-cheek tale has the overalled giant hacking off his toe, which then comes to life to trick and tease him; Haley's puppet figures and organic materials work well for her somewhat long, Appalachian interpretation; and the Tomes illustrations have a rustic quality that vibrates through the shorter, down-home cadences of Still's telling.

These four books appear in uniform paper-over-board editions. Galdone was a refreshingly modest illustrator: his retellings are straightforward and his unassumingly loose-lined, color-separated pictures provide just enough embellishment. Plenty of white space gives the stories all the room they need. [Review covers these Folk Tale Classic titles: Cinderella, Henny Penny, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rumpelstiltskin.] (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.