a worldwide Jack and the beanstalk story
The story of a child confronting a man-eating giant or witch is told the world over. These heroes go by many names and might be normal in size or no bigger than a thumb. Though they're often scorned for being the youngest and smallest, they're well-armed with cleverness and courage. Paul Fleischman and Julie Paschkis combine elements of this story from different tradition---Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Thumb, Kihuo, Vasilisa---to create one narrative, one complete picture of a small boy's triumph.
