The Giant of Jum

"Fee!" he said, and "Fi!" he said, and "Fo!" he said and "Fum!"Look out children, the Giant of Jum is grumpy and hungry and he's off in search of a tasty snack. And the tastiest of all is a boy called Jack! But Jack and his friends don't see a scary giant, they see a magically tall man - a man who can fetch lost balls and rescue cats from trees! Perhaps this hungry giant is softer than he seems... An incredible rhyming text and a brilliant, big-hearted twist on a classic fairy tale, from the uniquely talented author and poet, Elli Woollard, and award-winning illustrator, Benji Davies.The Giant of Jum also contains an important message for all: don't eat kids, eat cake!

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—The Giant of Jum is off to find a snack, preferably a child named Jack. Along the way he inadvertently does three good deeds, including carrying a little Jack Snack on his back. Because of this, the townspeople think he is a kindly soul and bake a treat for him. When he informs them he's come to eat children, they tell him, "Nice giants always eat cake." This satisfying take on tales about the giant and Jack is written in clever rhyme with perfect pacing. Even the traditional bits have a fun twist: " 'Fi!' he said, and 'Fee!' he said, and 'Fum!' he said, and 'Fo!' he said." Davies's delightful artwork teems with little critters who are running or hiding from the title character (one rabbit family even lives in the Giant's hat) and wonderfully adds to the text. For example, one scene shows all the creative ways the children attempt to get a cat out of a tree before calling on the Giant to help. A charming marriage of text and art, this book will stand up to repeated presentations again and again. VERDICTAn excellent read-aloud for class visits as well as a lovely bedtime story recommendation.—Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles Public Library

Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on The Giant of Jum

"The cadence of the lines dances on the pages, perfectly playing off the old "Fee Fi Fo Fum" rhymes with eloquence and aplomb. Fully embracing the spirit of the enterprise, Davies has a great deal of fun with the images . . . A merry old tale that's No. 1!"

School Library Journal on The Giant of Jum

"A charming marriage of text and art, this book will stand up to repeated presentations again and again. An excellent read-aloud for class visits as well as a lovely bedtime story recommendation."

Kirkus Reviews on Big Friends

"Excellent, believable advice, with boxes―what could be better than that?"

Publishers Weekly on Big Friends

"Sarah captures the joys and pain of a camaraderie that seems exquisitely perfect―until it isn't. . . . Davies makes the story sing from beginning to end with lovely drawings that feel sturdy and resolutely optimistic, even when Birt is at his lowest."

The Financial Times on The Storm Whale

"An understated, profoundly charming little fable."

The New York Times on The Storm Whale

"Simple but powerful. . . The world may still be as big and lonely and incomprehensible as the ocean, but still it's possible to find tremendous, heart-stopping tenderness."

The Wall Street Journal on The Storm Whale

"With its windblown illustrations and gratifying arc, The Storm Whale would be wonderful to read in the safe harbor of bedtime."

About the Author

Benji Davies is the author and illustrator of The Storm Whale. As a child, he was often found painting at the kitchen table . . . a habit he has continued into adulthood. He lives in London with his wife, Nina.Elli Woollard writes picture books, poems and other things (most of them silly), including The Giant of Jum, Troll Stroll, and Woozy the Wizard. She lives with her four wonderful children, her meteorologist husband, and two guinea pigs in London. She does not live with a cat, although the neighbors seem to think otherwise.

Reviews

News