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Jack and the Beanstalk

A young boy named Jack trading a brown cow for a handful of glittering golden magic beans with a stranger in a purple cloak on a colorful street

Jack and his mother were very poor, with only an old cow left to their name. His mother sent him to sell the cow at market, but on the way, Jack traded it instead for a handful of magic beans from a mysterious stranger.

Jack's mother tossing golden beans out the window of a warm, colorful wooden house in frustration, Jack standing sadly beside her

Furious that Jack had foolishly traded the cow for mere beans, his mother angrily threw them out the window and sent him to bed without any supper.

A giant dark green beanstalk growing sky-high through fluffy white clouds, Jack climbing up its stalk excitedly in the bright morning sun

The next morning, Jack woke to find a beanstalk had grown so tall it disappeared into the clouds. Excited, he decided to climb up and explore.

Jack secretly carrying a shimmering golden goose while running out of a huge golden castle atop fluffy white clouds, a giant's shadow looming behind him

At the top of the clouds, Jack found a giant's enormous castle, full of gold and a magical goose that laid golden eggs. He snuck in, grabbed the golden goose, and hurried back down before the giant noticed.

Jack and his mother smiling joyfully beside a golden goose laying a golden egg in front of a bright, colorful wooden house, the fallen beanstalk lying behind them

Back on the ground, Jack chopped down the beanstalk so the giant couldn't follow him. He and his mother now had a golden goose that laid golden eggs every day, and the two of them lived happily ever after.

Moral of the story

What looks worthless to others can become a great opportunity, if we're brave enough to act and quick-witted enough to seize it.

The original plot is in the public domain. Copyright is reserved in the Hoot Tales retelling, translation, illustrations, and presentation.

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About this story

Jack trades his cow for a handful of magic beans, and the beanstalk grows sky-high overnight. He climbs up to find a giant's castle among the clouds and brings back fortune to help his mother.

⏱ About 3–5 minutes👧 Best for ages 4–8📚 World Classics

What children can learn

Courage & Confidence
Written and retold by
Traditional folktale — retold by the Hoot Tales team
License
Public domain · Source: English Folktale
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