“Jack and the Beanstalk.” Fairy Tales in Easy Words, Springfield, MA: McLoughlin Brothers, Inc., [1923], pp. 27-56.

Tale Summary

The story begins with a widow and her son, Jack, who are poor and need to sell their cow for money. Jack takes the cow into town and is offered magic beans in exchange for it. When his mother sees he’s brought home beans instead of money, she throws the beans out the window and a great beanstalk grows into the clouds. Jack climbs the stalk in hopes of finding food. He comes across a town among the clouds and is helped by a magic fairy to find a giant’s castle (home to the giant who killed Jack’s father). Jack eventually steals a magic hen and gold coins from the giant. Jack also attempts to steal a harp but the giant wakes up from his slumber and chases after Jack, who runs down the beanstalk, and cuts it with an axe, causing the giant to fall and die. This serves justice to the giant and also teaches Jack to always behave and listen to his mother.