Jack and the Beanstalk Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Jack and the Beanstalk
Illustration by Arthur Rackham, 1918, in English Fairy Tales by Flora Annie Steel
Folk tale
Name	Jack and the Beanstalk
Also known as	Jack and the Giant man
Data
Aarne–Thompson grouping	AT 328 ("The Treasures of the Giant")
Country	England
Published in	Benjamin Tabart, The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk (1807) Joseph Jacobs, English Fairy Tales (1890)
Related	"Jack the Giant Killer"

Jack and the Beanstalk is a famous English fairy tale that many people know. It's often told alongside another story called Jack the Giant Killer. While there are different ways to tell this story, the most popular version today was written by Joseph Jacobs in his book English Fairy Tales. This classic tale even inspired a play by Charles Ludlam. Fun fact: sometimes a "space elevator" is playfully called a "beanstalk" because of this story!

The Amazing Story of Jack and the Beanstalk
Images for kids
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The Amazing Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack's Magical Beans

Jack was a poor boy who lived with his widowed mother. Jack often made silly choices, which worried his mother. One day, they had nothing left but their only cow. Jack's mother sent him to the market to sell it.

On his way, Jack met a strange man. This man offered to trade the cow for five "magic beans". Jack was super excited about owning magic beans! He quickly agreed to the trade without thinking twice.

The Giant Beanstalk

When Jack got home, his mother was not happy at all. She was so upset that she threw the beans out the window. Then, she sent Jack to bed without any dinner. But something amazing happened overnight! The seeds grew into a huge beanstalk. It reached so high into the sky that its top disappeared into the clouds.

Jack, being a curious boy, decided to climb the giant plant right away. He climbed and climbed until he reached a new land high above the clouds. This was the home of a huge giant!

Jack's First Visit to the Castle

Jack bravely entered the giant's castle. Soon, the giant sensed a human nearby. He chanted loudly:

Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!

I smell the blood of an Englishman.

Be he 'live, or be he dead,

I'll grind his bones to make my bread.

Luckily, the giant's wife helped Jack hide. As Jack escaped from the palace, he grabbed some gold coins. Back home, Jack and his mother were thrilled with their new money.

The Golden Hen

Their good luck didn't last forever. Soon, Jack decided to climb the beanstalk again. This time, he stole a special hen that laid golden eggs. Again, the giant's wife helped him get away. Jack climbed down the beanstalk and showed the amazing chicken to his mother. They lived happily for a while, selling the hen's golden eggs.

The Magical Harp and the Giant's Fall

Eventually, Jack got bored. He decided to climb the beanstalk one more time. On this trip, he stole a magical harp that could sing by itself. But the harp didn't like being stolen! It cried out to the giant for help.

The giant woke up and chased Jack down the beanstalk. Jack was fast and reached the ground just in time. He quickly grabbed an axe and chopped down the giant beanstalk. The giant fell to the earth with a huge crash! He hit the ground so hard that it split open, pulling the beanstalk down with him. Jack and his mother were safe at last.