Independent Reading Level: Pre-K- 2
Awards: Book of the Year, Best Picture Book (2000)

The constant repetition in this traditional rhyme is particularly appealing to young children. There are a lot of details in the pictures that children will have fun identifying. This rhyme is one that three- to five-year-olds will enjoy learning to recite making a lesson plan great for teaching rhymes and memorization games. ( )

Subject Area: Language Arts
Genre: Folk Tale/Poetry
Critique/Summary:
This book is in the folk tale category because the author involves the plausible (Jack building a house) and the implausible (animals chasing each other one after the other.) The author tells a simple story with the setting and plot established quickly. The characters are introduced one by one. Another reason that this book is an example of a folktale is because the author's plot is simple, with fast-paced action and repetition. The setting is fairly vague. The illustrations provide a more clear picture of the setting, but all in all it is a background setting, characteristic of a folktale. Because the author writes in rhyme, this book is also in the poetry genre.
(Stars for Plot.)
Age: Primary ( )

Colorful illustrations. Text dances around the page. ( )