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📚 This is Book 4 of 5 in the Modern Day Fairytales. Every book is a complete story, so you can read them in any order.
1. The Piper of Puddingham → 2. Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café → 3. Ella and the Midnight Disco → 4. Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk → 5. Little Red and the Very Hungry Wolf
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Paperbacks are printed to order in the UK and delivered in 4–7 working days. Ebooks (EPUB) download instantly after checkout.
Kindness is worth more than gold.
Jack Hollis lives on the fourteenth floor of Beanfield Tower, and money is tight. So when he swaps his games console for five magic beans, his mum is not impressed.
But by morning, a gigantic beanstalk has climbed past the rooftops and into the clouds, where a grumbling giant lives with a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that has forgotten how to sing.
One golden egg could fix everything. All Jack has to do is take it. Or is there a better way?
A read-aloud chapter book for ages 4–8 · 10 bedtime-sized chapters · 7,200 words · Text only, no illustrations
Bedtime tips for grown-ups
- Grumbold the giant should rumble. “Fee-fi-fo-fum” has never been so grumpy.
- Pause when Jack is tempted to take the egg and ask: what would you do?
- It’s a lovely way to talk about honesty, and about how grumpy people are sometimes just tired or lonely.
- Look out of the window afterwards and imagine what might live up in the clouds.
💛 Why kids love it
- A beanstalk that grows out of a tower-block window box.
- A giant who is grumpy because the city is too noisy to sleep.
- A hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that has lost her song.
- Jack chooses to do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
- A sky garden for everyone in the tower at the end.
Who is Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk for?
Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk is a magical read-aloud chapter book for children aged 4 to 8. It suits children who love adventure and giants, and families looking for a bedtime story that gently explores honesty and kindness.
Themes in the story
- Honesty, and choosing to do the right thing.
- Kindness to people who seem grumpy or frightening.
- Family, and making the best of what you have.
- Community: the beanstalk becomes a garden for everyone.
Is Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk right for my child? A parent’s guide
This is a gentle retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. The giant is grumpy rather than dangerous, nobody is hurt, and Jack wins by kindness instead of stealing. The story touches lightly on money being tight at home, in a warm and hopeful way.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk for?
It is written to be read aloud to children aged 4 to 8, and confident readers aged 7 to 9 can enjoy it on their own.
Is the giant scary?
Only at first. Grumbold is loud and grumpy, but he turns out to be lonely and tired, and he becomes Jack’s friend.
How many chapters are there?
Ten chapters, each about five to seven minutes long when read aloud.
Does the book have pictures?
No. It is a text-only chapter book, perfect for imagining at bedtime.
How much does Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk cost?
The paperback is £6.99, printed to order in the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £25. The ebook is £2.99 and downloads instantly.