Jim and the Beanstalk
Publisher: Penguin
This is a fun, engaging re-telling of the original folklore story of Jack and the Beanstalk.
When Jim finds a beanstalk growing outside his window one morning, he can't resist climbing up. At the top, he finds a castle and a giant - Jim only wants to stay for breakfast, but once there he finds the occupant is in desperate need of help.
The book's unusual design, alternating between colour and black-and-white pages, is fascinating and accentuates Raymond Briggs' trademark attention to detail.
Although Jim and the Beanstalk is a picture book, some passages of text are on the long side, making it an excellent early reader story too. It is a delightful revival, which also doubles as a clever sequel.
