Kate and the Beanstalk

Osborne, M.P. (2000). Kate and the Beanstalk. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Brief Annotation: After climbing the beanstalk, Kate discovers a grand castle. An old woman appears and tells Kate that she can correct a terrible injustice, but first she must obtain three treasures a giant keeps inside the castle. Disguising herself as a servant, Kate steals the treasures one by one, hiding them in her house. The giant discovers her betrayal but as he chases Kate down the beanstalk, falls to his death. In a surprise ending, Kate learns the truth behind the treasures and returns to her childhood castle in the sky.

Genre: Folklore

Grade Level: PreS through Grade 4

Readers who will like this: Children who like fairy tales, children who would benefit from an imaginative tale, children who enjoy stories with colorful illustrations

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, A wonderful version of a classic fairy tale. The appealing text and beautiful illustrations make the characters come alive!

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you think girls can do the same tasks as boys? Why or Why Not?

Reading Strategies Connection: Post-Reading Activity-Venn Diagrams (Yopp and Yopp, p. 115). In this activity, children have the opportunity to learn the characteristics of the folklore genre, specifically folktales, by comparing two versions of the same folktale. After reading Kate and the Beanstalk, students document the dominant characteristics (setting, plot, characters, etc.). Students also read a second version and document its traits. By comparing the two versions, students learn that there are similarities (and differences) between the versions and these represent the essential elements of a folktale. This activity can also lead to additional discussions that books within any specific genre contain similar elements.