American Tall Tales

About This Book

Meet America's first folk heroes in these nine wildly exaggerated and downright funny stories. Here are Paul Bunyan, that king-sized lumberjack who could fell "ten white pines with a single swing"; John Henry, with his mighty hammer; Mose, old New York's biggest, bravest fireman; Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, who could "outgrin, outsnort, outrun, outlift, outsneeze, outsleep, outlie any varmint"; and other uniquely American characters, together in one superb collection. In the tradition of the original nineteenth-century storytellers, Mary Pope Osborne combines, edits, and adds her own two cents' worth -- and also supplies fascinating historical headnotes. Michael McCurdy's robust colored wood engravings recall an earlier time, perfectly capturing all the vitality of the men and women who carved a new country out of the North American wilderness. American Tall Tales is a must-have addition to every family's home library and is just right for sharing aloud across generations for years to come. - Jacket flap.