Jack & the Beanstalk

Jack and his widowed mother had little money. For a long time their cow, Milky-white, had given them milk to sell. Then one morning she gave none at all.

There was no food to spare. Mother asked Jack to take the cow to market and sell her for the best price he could.

Before Jack reached the market, a strange old man offered him five beans in exchange for Milky-white. He promised they were magic. Jack believed him and made the trade.

Mother was upset to see beans instead of money. She tossed them out the window. Overnight a thick beanstalk grew all the way into the clouds.

Jack climbed the beanstalk until he reached a road in the sky. At the end stood a huge house. The giant’s wife took pity on the hungry boy and gave him breakfast.

Heavy footsteps shook the floor. Her husband was coming. She hurried Jack into the cold oven and closed the door before the giant entered.