School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-5-Fantasy lovers will appreciate this audio version of the tale by Julia Donaldson (Holt, 2005). The giant girl, Jumbeelia, is so infatuated with the tale of tiny humans (iggly plops), that she grows a beanstalk (bimplestonk) to climb down to collect her own set. These turn out to be the collector Colette, the adventurous Stephen, and the baby Poppy Jones. The family is tortured when Jumbeelia's mean brother discovers them. But Jumbeelia is able to work trades to get Poppy, then Colette back, and Stephen is able to hide out under the giants' backyard shed. After several adventures and narrow escapes, the family reunites and, using their collective ingenuity, they are able to return home. At the conclusion of the tale, the giants and the Joneses have acquired a growing appreciation of each other's humanity, and a strengthened bond between all of the siblings. A dictionary of the "Groil" language spoken by the giants is part of the book but lacking in the audio version. However, narrator Patricia Conolly's clear pronunciation makes the giants' language easily understandable and meaning is clear in context. Her energetic reading serves this exciting adventure well.-Cynthia Grabke, Thayer Public Library, Braintree, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.