About this ebook
From climbing beanstalks to confronting beasts, the classic collection of “lively, entertaining stories . . . a valuable contribution to American folklore” (The New York Times).
These rollicking folk tales from the southern Appalachians center on the many adventures of the irrepressible Jack, and showcase the wit and wisdom passed down from generation to generation through the oral tradition. It provides hours of delight for children—as well as an enjoyable and enlightening read for students of folklore and storytelling.
“Humor, freshness, colorful American background, and the use of one character as a central figure in the cycle mark these eighteen folk tales, told here in the dialect of the mountain country of North Carolina.” —Booklist
“Filled from cover to cover with good, rousing, exciting stories.” —Saturday Review of Literature
“An appendix of sources and parallel themes to be found in other folklore is a scholarly and fascinating contribution . . . I’m glad it is placed at the end so that children will not be deterred from reading the stories for sheer fun.” —Kirkus Reviews
These rollicking folk tales from the southern Appalachians center on the many adventures of the irrepressible Jack, and showcase the wit and wisdom passed down from generation to generation through the oral tradition. It provides hours of delight for children—as well as an enjoyable and enlightening read for students of folklore and storytelling.
“Humor, freshness, colorful American background, and the use of one character as a central figure in the cycle mark these eighteen folk tales, told here in the dialect of the mountain country of North Carolina.” —Booklist
“Filled from cover to cover with good, rousing, exciting stories.” —Saturday Review of Literature
“An appendix of sources and parallel themes to be found in other folklore is a scholarly and fascinating contribution . . . I’m glad it is placed at the end so that children will not be deterred from reading the stories for sheer fun.” —Kirkus Reviews
Ratings and reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Alisha Norris
- Flag inappropriate
February 5, 2016
I had a 5th grade teacher read this to us everyday.. after finishing the book we all begged her to read it again.
3 people found this review helpful
Bryant Campbell
- Flag inappropriate
February 1, 2017
An old favorite, from the 5th grade. Couldn't wait for story time. My teacher did all the characters voices
1 person found this review helpful
Bart Jones
- Flag inappropriate
January 24, 2016
Folk tells
About the author
Richard Chase collected The Jack Tales in the mountain country of North Carolina, where they have been handed down for generations. Everyone knows the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. This book contains eighteen stories about Jack, many of them still completely new to the average reader. And what adventures Jack has! Noted American folklorist Richard Chase (1904–1988) has been called the man “most responsible for the renaissance of Appalachian storytelling.” A collector of tales that had been handed down from generation to generation in the Appalachian regions of the United States, Chase was born in Alabama and lived in the mountains of North Carolina.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
