Jack, of Beanstalk fame, is an old man at the beginning of this novel, which features wanna-be thief Nick. When Nick tries to steal from Jack, all he gets away with are three glowing green beans. You can guess where this story is going--until you get to the top of the beanstalk, where Nick, like his predecessor, finds a gentle giantess who is willing to help him trick her wicked sons--if he can help her.Quick-paced and clearly written, this book is ideal for younger readers or reading aloud. I found the story to be overly-simplistic (but then I am a fairy tale connoisseur), as the driving plot tends to drive out much in the way of character development. Still, this is a fun one, definitely a quick read, and worth checking out if you're a fan of the "But what happened AFTER THAT" scenarios.
