Genre 2 Traditional LiteratureVariant

Waynetta and the Cornstalk

By Ketteman, Helen, 2007.
Greenseid, Diane – Illustrator
Morton Grove, Ill; Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN:-13.9780807586877


Summary:
A Jack in the Beanstalk, with a Texas flair is sure to stir some interest when read with a Texas drawl. This story is sure to catch their attention as the colorful illustration are shown right along with the story of Waynetta, her mom, their longhorn steers, their dried up ranch and the giants.
The little girl by the name of Waynetta is asked by her mama to sell their last longhorn steer, before it starves to death and get money to buy food. Tricked by a sly stranger, he convinces Waynetta to trade with him, his magic beans for the steer. Waynetta hears the word magic and decides to trade. Mama is disappointed about the trade, tosses the magic kernels out the window, making Waynetta sad. Feeling sad about what she has done, she tries to figure out what she can do to make her mama feel happy. The kernels had grown to a giant cornstalk by the next morning, and Waynetta wondered what could be up in the sky, she climbs and her adventures begin. Will her luck change? Will her mama worry where she has gone? What will she find? It will surely intrigue the children to find out what has happened to Waynetta as she climbs the cornstalk.


Analysis
It is the good versus bad. Waynetta and mama, working hard to keep the ranch in good condition despite the drought and people like the stranger taking advantage of a little girl by tricking her with the so called magic corn kernels. The giants that have stolen their prize possessions, the steer that lays the golden cowpat instead of the golden egg, the magic water bucket instead of the harp, are now trying to keep them when Waynetta tries to get them back. The twist of the story is the giants become their much needed ranch hands and everyone living happily ever after. This story is a funny tale, very imaginative and a good way to introduce Texas words. Good prevails. The illustrations are done in very colorful watercolors.

Reviews

This rollicking interpretation of Jack and the Beanstalk with its Texas setting and plucky heroine named Waynetta is fresh and imaginative….Ketteman’s text is peppered with Texas colloquialisms and it is hard not to affect a drawl when reading it. Her new twist on a traditional favorite will win over new fans….Children will delight in repeating the refrain “Fee, Fie, Foe, fat, I think I smell a cowgirl brat.” And the story will have them begging, “read it again.”

Children’ Literature

Absolutely adorable adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk, this is too cute for words. One thing that bothers me is that the golden egg from the Jack story is replaced with golden “cowpats”…I would consider this a must for a silly, modern kids library!

School Library Journal
Janella L. Hartsell


Connections

-Have multicultural readings of other Jack and the Beanstalk stories.
Compare and contrast – Have students write their names under their favorite
Jack story and review the results in large group.

-Have students act out the Beanstalk story.

-Growing beanstalks - Have students water their lima beans and
then watch them grow over the next few weeds.

-Bean Names – Provide various types of dried beans and label them.

-Bean tasting graph – Have students write their names on the chart under they
Appropriate picture to indicate which bean they liked best.