Fearsome Giant, Fearless Child

The story of a child confronting a man-eating giant or witch is told the world over. These heroes go by many names and might be normal in size or no bigger than a thumb. Though they're often scorned for being the youngest and smallest, they're well-armed with cleverness and courage.

In this companion to Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal, Paul Fleischman and Julie Paschkis combine elements of this story from different traditions—Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Thumb, Kihuo, Vasilisa—to create one narrative, one complete picture of a small boy's triumph.

Godwin Books

About the Author

Paul Fleischman won a Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise and a Newbery Honor for Graven Images. He is also the author of young adult novels including Whirligig and The Mind's Eye, and middle-grade novels including Bull Run and Seedfolks. He lives with his wife in northern California.

About the Illustrator

Julie Paschkis is a painter and award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People, Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudi, and Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella. A love of pattern and of folk art shows in all her work. She lives in Seattle, Washington.