Jack III and Elayna's grandfather climbed the beanstalk, but what grandfather had not told his mother at the time was that there was also a magic carrot seed that had been part of the trade. The carrot seed blew out of Jack's hand that day and he was already feeling a little nervous about telling his mother about the trade. The carrot seed was slow-growing, but it came to full size just in time to give grandchildren Jack III and Elayna a wild adventure that made the beanstalk look like a school field trip. But Jack and Elayna were not really looking for adventure, they were looking for food. You see, grandpa Jack had not been that good with money. The family wealth was gone. Now Jack III and Elayna's parents had to join the circus, reenacting the Jack and the Beanstalk story to try to make ends meet. Left at home to watch over things, the growling in their stomachs soon brought Jack III and Elayna to the giant carrot and an adventure of a lifetime.

Finding the carrot was edible was good news, but a diet of carrots three times a day is less good news. To avoid this diet they begin selling carrot pieces at the local market and using the money to buy other foods. Eventually, there is a small cave carved into the carrot and then this grows into a large carrot mine. All is well and good until Jack sees a glow at the end of a new tunnel he is carving. He begins to understand that there is more to this carrot than carrot pieces. It turns out the carrot is home for a town of tiny people who are ruled by a giant worm king, at least half again as large as Jack. The king is also guarded by four giant scorpions and the first meeting does not go well. It is a story of cunning, courage and a new paradigm of freedom for the tiny people; that is if Jack and Elayna can survive.

The stories in the Galactic Flyer books are for children, but they are not childish. I believe children are brilliant and have seen that they love to learn about character and values in their stories. This story teaches about courage, freedom and also about being wise with money. There are many colorful pictures in this book. The pictures of characters acting out this adventure are of my children and grandchildren who grew up on these tales. This is a story that children will remember. I know this because I have a great many grandchildren and I made up countless stories of adventure and fantasy for them since they could first talk. I chose the stories in this series from those my teen grandchildren still remember.

I would really love your feedback on this story. It is a joy to pass these stories along to others outside our circle of family and friends. I hope you and the children in your life enjoy them.