Fearsome Giant, Fearless Child : A Worldwide Jack and the Beanstalk Story

The story of a child confronting a man-eating giant or witch is told the world over.

These heroes go by many names and might be normal in size or no bigger than a thumb.

Though they're often scorned for being the youngest and smallest, they're well-armed with cleverness and courage.

In this companion to Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal, Paul Fleischman and Julie Paschkis combine elements of this story from different traditions - Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Thumb, Kihuo, Vasilisa - to create one narrative, one complete picture of a small boy's triumph.