Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
42nd out of 79 books
—
10 voters
American Tall Tales
Celebrating the 15th anniversary of these collection of tales. There are among nine "tall" heroes featured in this exuberant collection of traditional American folk tales, including Paul Bunyan, JohnnyAppleseed, John Henry, and other American folk heroes.
Hardcover, 128 pages
Published
September 24th 1991
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
197)
“American Tall Tales” is a set of tales from famous tall tale heroes of the west, African-American history, and of the Mississippi. Mary Pope Osborne’s hilarious retelling of the American heroes and Michael McCurdy’s wood engraved drawings both make these set of collections an instant treat.
“American Tall Tales” is a great book about tall tale legends that made a difference in the world. One of the best advantages in this book is the colorful characters. Each tall tale character is a portrait o...more
Traditional Fantasy. Published in 1991 for ages 9 and up. This book is made up of nine fairy tales with a different "tall hero" in each. The stories include Davy Crockett, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, Mose, Febold Feboldson, Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, JohnnyAppleseed, John Henry, and Stormalong. These tell the stories of how these awkward folks saved the day. I mostly enjoyed reading about Stormalong that is one I have never heard about and I love how this giant felt so uncomfortable he moved...more
This was a very good book. Paul Bunyan is about a boy that grew unusually fast and large. People complained about how he would shake the ground as he walked when he was still just a toddler. In attempt to resolve the shaking, his parent put him in a big raft-like boat to keep him from shaking the ground but when he would roll over in the boat, it would create large waves that would flood the villages along the shores. So his parents were obligated to take him away and place him where he would no...more
Jonny Appleseed, planted apple seeds wherever he went! This is a good book for primary students, particularly in the third to sixth grade, where the students start to understand history. A good activity would be planting apple seeds in schools that have a garden area to relate to Jonny Appleseed and his adventure.
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, is a great adventure tale with culture for primary students! From a young age Paul became a lumberjack, and met a Blue Ox named Babe that lead to a lif...more
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, is a great adventure tale with culture for primary students! From a young age Paul became a lumberjack, and met a Blue Ox named Babe that lead to a lif...more
I have always loved hearing about tall tales, ever since I was little and watched the Disney versions of Paul Bunyun and Pecos Bill. Michael McCurdy's wood engraving illustrations in this book were amazing, and went well with the frontier theme of the book. They had familiar stories about Davy Crockett, Paul Bunyun, Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed and John Henry. There were lesser known stories about Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind (the wife of Davy Crockett), Stormalong (a giant sailor from Massac...more
I wrote my own tall tale after reading these tall tales. Here is my tall tale:
Gabey the Tornady
On the day Gabey was born he screamed so loud that the walls caved in. Everybody thought a tornado had done the damage. For his first meal, Gabey ate ten barrels of eggs, sausage, and milk. When Gabey's Mom gave him his first bath, he splashed so hard that a whirlpool appeared. By Gabey's 6th birthday, he had frown as tall as a willow tree. Once Gabey rode his bike so fast that the tires spun up so mu...more
Gabey the Tornady
On the day Gabey was born he screamed so loud that the walls caved in. Everybody thought a tornado had done the damage. For his first meal, Gabey ate ten barrels of eggs, sausage, and milk. When Gabey's Mom gave him his first bath, he splashed so hard that a whirlpool appeared. By Gabey's 6th birthday, he had frown as tall as a willow tree. Once Gabey rode his bike so fast that the tires spun up so mu...more
I found this book under the children's folktales section. However, I wouldn't read these stories to young children. I don't think they would understand the point of the story. The stories are too complex for young readers in my opinion. The stories are short and some are funny. I enjoyed reading this book but I'm not sure I would use it for first or second grade students.
A wonderful resource for teaching tall tales. Mary Pope Osborne gets the folksy voices just right, and her introductions to each of the tall tale characters give invaluable information on the history of how that particular tall tale developed. Bold illustrations capture the adventure and energy of these exaggerated tales.
American tall tales are, well...tall. And Mary Pope Osborne, of The Magic Treehouse fame, aims to make this collection the biggest and best yet. She doesn't disappoint. My favorite: Paul Bunyan's wife, Sally Ann ThunderAnn Whirlwind.
*Some artwork contained in the book is sure to cause giggling.
*Some artwork contained in the book is sure to cause giggling.
May 01, 2010
Christina
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-read-aloud,
historical-fiction
This was a nice supplement to our study of American history (we're learning about explorers, mountain men, and American legends). The audio version had a lively and animated narrator. Even though the book recommends this for kids 9+, my younger kids enjoyed it.
Genre: Tall Tales
Grade:3-6
Johnny Appleseed
In the Ohio Valley, a ghost is seen and heard. Johnny Appleseed became a legend in the early 1800's. He set off to become an apple missionary, spreading apples all over the frontier. He saw many things, including steamboats, buffalo, oxen, women gathering crops. He even saw Abraham Lincoln, giving him some encouragement. One spring night, Johnny laid down and talked with the animals, it was then he became a living legend, with his spirit wandering.
Activi...more
Grade:3-6
Johnny Appleseed
In the Ohio Valley, a ghost is seen and heard. Johnny Appleseed became a legend in the early 1800's. He set off to become an apple missionary, spreading apples all over the frontier. He saw many things, including steamboats, buffalo, oxen, women gathering crops. He even saw Abraham Lincoln, giving him some encouragement. One spring night, Johnny laid down and talked with the animals, it was then he became a living legend, with his spirit wandering.
Activi...more
Another fun read aloud. My girls love tall tales, especially when I make them up, but when I run dry of creativity, these old standbys not only entertain them, but give me new ideas for my own.
this book has tons of tall tales i have never heard like davy crockett or pacos bill my little cousin really enjoyed the paul bunnion tale when he chopped down a tree in one chop
The illustrations of wood cutouts were a nice touch. The author gives an informative back story for each tall tale. I liked the first few tall stories, but the subsequent stories weren't as engaging. Unfortunately, the child to whom I read the tall tales did not appreciate the genre. She did not understand how "boasting" (her word, not mine!) was funny.
Great book to read to your children or classroom. It's a fun way to introduce the legends and heroes in a Classic way.
I herd that the book wasn't that good. It is not a book I would recommend for anyone.
By Jana H. 11 years old
By Jana H. 11 years old
Ah the american tall tales, larger than life and always fun to revist on occasion! Still have to say Johnny Appleseed and John Henry are still my favorites.
This is a good book for introducing students to folktales and expaining the differnces between fact and fiction, this book has both. Some of the stories are based on fact, while some are complete fiction. This book could also be implemented in a lesson about tales of American history. I would have given this book 5 stars, but the author clearly states in the preface that she changed some of the inforamtion in the tales to suit a politcally correct society. I understand her views, but i don't thi...more
A nice collection of stories.Some of the stories were sad , though.
I forgot about Paul Bunyan, Tom Henry, Johnny Appleseed...!
Part of a tall tale unit
it was very interesting
Bizarre, but hilarious. Very cute, with great illustrations.
My boys really enjoyed this book. We read it to fill some cubscout requirements. It's written by the same author that wrote the Magic Treehouse Series. The illustrations are neat wood engravings. It has all the well-known tall tales--Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyun, Johnny Appleseed, as well as some I hadn't heard before. In her introduction, Mary Pope Osborne says that she tried to bring out the more vulnerable and compassionate side of the tall-tale characters in her retellings.
I am obsessed with story telling lately and this book is full of great stories. I hope that I can learn them well enough to tell to children without the book. They are the kinds of stories that grandpa would tell you while sitting on the porch and whittling.
The other great thing about this one is the language. It makes me laugh at the great phrases like, "I could whip my weight in wildcats" and words like, "varmint". It is a great collection of tales.
The other great thing about this one is the language. It makes me laugh at the great phrases like, "I could whip my weight in wildcats" and words like, "varmint". It is a great collection of tales.
We read this as a bedtime story over a few weeks and they laughed and laughed and laughed and didn't get much sleeping done.
These stories were nicely done with great illustrations.
An excellent addition to your study of American History or just for fun.
These stories were nicely done with great illustrations.
An excellent addition to your study of American History or just for fun.
I love tall tales! I read some with my 3/4 class today and they were really engaged and asking for more!
I decided I don't like American tall tales as much as I like midieval tales.
hilarious characters and old favorites
May 18, 2013
Bradycc
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
![American Tall Tales [With Headphones] (Audio)](http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348786851s/7885538.jpg)
Mary Pope Osborne has channeled a lifelong love of exploration and travel into one of the most popular children’s book series of the past two decades. With her fantastic Magic Tree House series, Mary Pope Osborne keeps the good times rolling for kids all over the world.
More about Mary Pope Osborne...
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
Sep 16, 2012 12:09pm