I’LL GIVE ALL THESE BEANS FOR YOUR COW.
From the story “JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.”
Once Upon a Time.
Edited by Katharine Lee Bates.
Illustrated by Margaret Evans Price.
Rand McNally & Company: Chicago & New York. 1921.
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Elephant's Picture Book 
Those pants!
They are the dear little pants.
i HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY GIVE THESE MAGIC BEANS FOR JUST A COW?
Maybe it was a magic cow? We never hear that side of the story.
Yeah, now that you mention it, what does happen to the cow? It is so beautiful I wish it was mine! Where is that wizard . . . maybe he will trade me the cow for something.
The wizard with wild pants and matching hat was a great salesman, and he hustled Jack into traded his beautiful cow (it is a stunning cow in this illustration) for some psychedelic beans. I agree it looks like a very bad deal. But in the end Jack got an adventure out of the deal. I think he eventually got his “beans” worth. Or maybe not?
Elephant
I’m with Claudia ‘groovy pants’ 🙂
How did these groovy pants show up in the 1920’s! The wizard’s hat matches his pants. So much we think of as newish is very old!
Well I am thinking Ballet Russe but there were possibly lots of other inspiring choices 🙂
Good thought – I can see him leaping around in these pants. Time traveler – another good answer!
Elephant
They are available at my Etsy store!
I dunno… that deal doesn’t seem worth beans. 🙂
what a beautiful illustration !
A fine play on words! Beans! I also think it is beautiful illustration. The cow is great, and so is the wizard’s fashion sense.
Thanks,
Elephant
Child, child, stranger danger; magic beans, floral pants, pointy hat!
Love your words, just my thoughts! Looks very Haight Ashbury.
You are something else!
E
I tell my kids not to take stuff from strangers!
I hope they listen! Maybe we should make a 10 most wanted poster of these dangerous fairy tale characters so that kids can avoid the magic bean con.
Love it. Won’t be doing that one tomorrow, though. 🙂
Yes, he missed the very obvious indicia of Fair Tale DANGER!
(1) he met a stranger on the road (made worse because he was alone on an errand for his mother);
(2) The stranger looked strange (yes, the tall pointy hat, the unisex pants, the yellow and black color theme! etc.)
(3) The stranger struck up a conversation with him about magic beans no less.
(4) He missed the cow’s cues – note the cow has the survival skills to turn his back to the stranger and ignore him.
Jack needs to grow up – sell his cow for cash, get out of that baby outfit and pay attention!
Elephant
Well said. And yes I did notice the cow being very wise.