Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack swaps the family cow for a handful of magic beans, and overnight they grow into a beanstalk that reaches the sky. Up in the giant’s house he wins a bag of gold, a hen that lays golden eggs and a singing golden harp, then chops the beanstalk down just in time.
Scene 1: Milky-white
Jack and the Beanstalk. Once upon a time, a poor widow lived with her only son, Jack, and their cow, Milky-white. One morning, Milky-white gave no milk at all. Jack’s mother said: “We must sell Milky-white.” So Jack took the cow by her halter, and off he went to market.
Scene 2: Magic Beans
On the way, he met a funny-looking old man. The old man held out some strange-looking beans, and said: “Your cow for these beans. Plant them overnight, and by morning they grow right up to the sky.” So Jack swapped Milky-white for the beans.
Scene 3: Out of the Window
When Jack got home, he said: “Look, Mother! Magic beans!” His mother was very cross. She cried: “Beans! Here they go, out of the window!” And Jack went up to bed without any supper.
Scene 4: Up to the Sky
In the night, the beans sprang up into a big beanstalk. It went up and up and up, till it reached the sky. Jack climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, till at last he was up above the clouds. There stood a great big tall house, and on the doorstep, a great big tall woman.
Scene 5: Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum
She was the giant’s wife, and she gave Jack some breakfast. Then, thump! thump! thump! The giant was coming! So she hid Jack in the oven. The giant roared: “Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman, Be he alive, or be he dead, I’ll have his bones to grind my bread.” His wife said: “Nonsense, dear. You’re dreaming.”
Scene 6: The Hen That Lays Golden Eggs
After breakfast, the giant counted his bags of gold, till he began to snore. Jack crept out on tiptoe, took one bag of gold, and climbed down home. Later, Jack climbed up again. This time the giant called: “Wife, bring me the hen that lays the golden eggs.” Then he said: “Lay!” And the hen laid an egg all of gold. When the giant snored again, Jack took the hen and hurried home.
Scene 7: The Golden Harp
Jack climbed up once more, and hid in a big copper pot. After breakfast, the giant called: “Wife, wife, bring me my golden harp.” The harp sang so sweetly that the giant fell asleep. Jack crept out and caught hold of the harp. But the harp called out: “Master! Master!” The giant woke up, and came rushing after Jack.
Scene 8: Bring Me an Axe
Jack climbed down as fast as he could, with the giant climbing after him. Jack called: “Mother! Mother! Bring me an axe!” Jack chopped, and chopped, and the beanstalk began to topple. Down fell the giant, and the beanstalk came toppling after. And that was the end of the giant. Jack and his mother lived happily ever after, with the golden hen and the golden harp. Be brave, and great things can grow from the smallest beans.
Moral: Be brave, and great things can grow from the smallest beans.
Questions about Jack and the Beanstalk
What was the name of Jack’s cow?
Milky-white.
What did Jack get for the cow?
Some magic beans.
Where did Jack’s mother throw the beans?
Out of the window.
Where did the giant’s wife hide Jack the first time?
In the oven.
What did the golden harp call out when Jack took it?
“Master! Master!”.
More stories to read aloud
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears — While the Three Bears take a walk until their porridge cools, a little girl called Goldilocks walks into their house and tries their porridge, chairs and beds.
- Hansel and Gretel — Left in the forest, Hansel and Gretel find their way home by moonlit white pebbles, but the next time birds eat their breadcrumbs and they come to a house of bread and cake.
- Henny Penny — An acorn falls on Henny-penny's head, and she is sure the sky is falling, so she sets off to tell the king with Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey and Turkey-lurkey.