The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan: The Graphic Novel

Graphic Spin

by Martin Powell, Aaron Blecha

The legendary woodsman Paul Bunyan was the biggest man who ever lived. He had wagon wheels for shirt buttons, and his axe took an entire town a whole month to build! One day, Paul finds a big blue ox frozen in the snow. He nurses the behemoth back to health, and names his new companion Babe. The two travel the land, and clear the way for settlers who will soon follow.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. This entry is for Martin ^ Powell.


Martin Powell is the author of hundreds of science fiction, mystery, and horror stories. He has worked in the comic book industry since 1986, writing for Marvel, DC, Malibu, Caliber, Moonstone, and Disney, among others, and has been nominated for the coveted Eisner Award. Martin also writes children’s books, and frequently contributes prose for many short story anthologies. He resides in Saint Paul, MN.

Reviews

[Lauren M · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok

[Austin W · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love all the silly things he did

[Kylie Svoboda]

Audience: 3rd-5th graders
Appeal: This story ties into social studies and Old American literature. The story also uses a humorous fun spin to the classic Paul Bunyan story. Good for ELL students so they can comprehend the story through looking at the pictures.
Award: Gold Medal, Moor Beam Children's Book Award for Best children's Graphics.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book through Goodreads' traditional literature tag, as recommended in my RLL 520 Module 6 materials. I accessed this book on Sora, an ebook app through my school’s library. Picture quality and text size are easy to see and read.

This story tells the traditional tale of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in a graphic novel format. Paul and Babe travel the country, solving some problems, creating other problems, and creating many natural land formations due to their large size. Eventually, they go home to find Paul’s logging camp, and workers, were frozen solid. Old Man Winter presents a formidable adversary and one who is Paul’s size. At the end of the book, there’s a short glossary of vocabulary words that were underlined throughout the text and there are discussion questions and writing prompts also.

The language is easy to read. The book has 35 pages. I’d use this with 3rd to 6th graders who are reading at a lower level but need books that are longer, engaging, and don’t look like they are for younger children. Students who have been exposed to a video or read-aloud version of this tale may be drawn in by the familiar idea of this book but in a new format. I think English learners would also be able to access this classic tale as a graphic novel. There are more than 20 other traditional literature stories turned into graphic novels in this series, Graphic Spin, from Capstone Publishing’s Stone Arch Books.

I did mark the book only 4 stars because Paul Bunyan’s story demonstrates an arguably necessary colonial mindset - logging camp to clear land for settlers, doesn’t mention any indigenous people already in any of the states he visits although at the time of the setting, there very well could have been people already living in those areas. Those are flaws in the original text. It’s worth discussing with students how we can be more inclusive and respectful now. I would have them discuss how they would change the story to bring in respect for the land and respect for traditionally marginalized groups.

[Peyton Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One observation: This book used many images to appeal to children, would suggest a 3-6th grade reading level.
One connection: I remember reading the story of Paul Bunyan when I was younger, so this book automatically caught my eye.
One surprise: The way the author kept the original story while also creating the "graphic novel" spin was intriguing!
My personal opinion: This book would help a child who does not really like reading because it has tons of pictures and the story is super simple to follow. I enjoyed it and would love to read it aloud to my students one day.

[Sungyena]

The cover is excellent.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the format of this book. The extra information at the front and back of the book was set up very nicely. The pictures are very colorful, making this an attractive book to get students hooked on the story.

[Nicole Baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was an interesting read for children. This book emphasizes the importance of helping others when Paul dedicates his life to that. This is a great lesson for children to learn through a story book. This book is a perfect example of a tall tale because of the exaggeration of Paul's size. A great thing this book did was differentiate the actions preformed and the words of the characters. The actions were in square boxes with light blue backgrounds and the words were in talk bubbles that had white backgrounds. This book had a series of events that took place and I thought the author accomplished this with little words and few pages.

The pictures in this book showed great facial expressions on the characters throughout the book. Also when something would happen like, when the bees were attacking, there would be a picture and then the sound affect. I think this is a great idea because it really expresses what is going on in the pictures. I feel like that almost gives life to the pictures. On the other hand, there was a lot of color in these pages and I felt that it distracted me from the words.

The ending of this book was my favorite part by far. It was not an ending that was simple, it was more of an ending that left you wondering. The ending showed things Paul has been doing but, as a child you would wonder what is he doing now? I feel as if Paul Bunyan is not as popular as he once was but, I feel that this book could change that. I would recommend this book in classrooms to present what a tall tale is. I think the pictures do a great job of showing the exaggeration and if there were just words in this book it would not be as great.

[Karah Kinnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was short enough that I was easily able to get through it in one sitting and with the illustrations used I was kept engaged throughout the whole thing. Out of all the aspects to the book whether it be the story material or the illustrations it was the illustrations I felt that really gave this book life. With the story of Paul Bunyan being one that most people know and understand, the illustrations gave the character life (And showed just how large he really was and all of the amazing feats he did). I also liked how connected the actions of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Ox were to monuments in the United States, like the Grand Canyon.
This book falls into the category of Traditional Literature under the subcategory of Tall Tales. The main character of Paul Bunyan is a character that is larger than life and one that does incredible and impossible things. This novel also originated from North America which as said in the Chapter I read this week discussing Traditional Literature said that this was not a deciding factor on making something a Tall Tale. The elements of this story that really sets it in the category of being a Tall Tale is the material that is being presented and the story overall.
This book was different in the way that the story was told in the form of a graphic novel instead of a traditional children’s book. I feel like this story would be easier for a student to be reading on their own while the regular version would be better for a read aloud. I could see myself as a future educator using this story, especially with a lesson dealing with traditional literature.

[Katrina Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. Long ago, the people who settled in undeveloped areas in America first told tall tales.

Paul Bunyan is a big man, taller than the tree. He had wagon wheels for shirt buttons, and his axe took an entire town a whole month to build! When Paul Bunyan was a man, his footprints filled with rain, and each one turned into a lake!

Paul Bunyan is a folk hero among loggers (he made a brief reappearance among oil industry workers, too) who is bigger and stronger than anyone else. The stories told about him are silly and implausible, but always center around his amazing size and strength.

In this graphic novel, Grand Canyon was made because of him and babe, the oxen. The origin of Lake Superior was also shown.

It is really for kids, but it is refreshing and light.

[Lexi Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the tall tale self-selected book I chose "The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan" and I was very pleased after reading it. This was a story that every child would love to read because of how unique it was. This was a story about an abnormally large man who became a lumberjack who was extremely helpful and giving. Unfortunately Paul Bunyan had no friends and all he wanted was a friend of his own. Eventually Paul made friends with a giant blue ox and they went through the rest of the story together going through various adventures.

[Johni · Rating 5 out of 5]

the illistration is so cool. my favoirite part is when paul get dropped on his ma and pa's shed. its a good book. and the seven elmers. that would be so confusing. a great tale to read aloud. 5 stars

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the art, but the story was lacking. Basically a series of short sentences.

[Pricila · Rating 3 out of 5]

short books but fun to read. when I was reading this book it was very easy to follow along.

[Abbey Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny cute book for children! Learning about the tale of Paul Bunyan and the different landscapes in America.

[Aggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little comic book.

[Baleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an okay book, it was not my favorite, but I love Paul Bunyan’s story. As he travels with his ox.

[Ed McKeogh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this adaptation of Paul Bunyan's tall tales too thin, even though it's pitched toward a young audience. The storytelling contained in this graphic novel was too much "tell" and not enough "show," which is a shame because illustrator Aaron Blecha's work is goofy, expressive and engaging. Too often, the conundrum is set in one panel then resolved in the next with very little action or context to give it much sense or import. Bunyan, as a "mythic" character who took root in the American psyche early in our history, is less than paper thin here. Powell squandered a great opportunity to inject life and personality onto an otherwise blank slate. A quick, superficial rehash of some folklore (or, as is more commonly thought these days, fakelore), this slim volume serves only to whet the reader's appetite to know more about the stories behind the stories, and with a $4.95 cover price, doesn't offer much value. It is redeemed from having only one star by Blecha's artwork, which will not be to everyone's taste.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this volume Martin Powell and Aaron Blecha have continued the "tradition" of Paul Bunyan stories. I put tradition in quotation marks because like a lot of other American tall tale characters, Paul Bunyan wasn't all that traditional. Most of the stories we read as kids were literary creations, or retellings of those. So, when Powell added little details of his own, he was just carrying on in the correct way. Powell and Blecha added some slapstick comedy that works very well. Some things are never explained, like why all the lumberjacks are named Elmer, and that fits the goofy mood of this version.
Like others in this series, its only weakness is its brevity. Powell has to leave out too many good bits, and anyone who likes this book will be desperate to find the rest of some of the story threads. While it's nice for a graphic novel to be a gateway to another version, it shouldn't REQUIRE the reader to have another book standing by, in order to complete their reading experience.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather creative twist on the folktale of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox "The Tall Tales Of Paul Bunyan: The Graphic Novel" is much like a comic book. This comic explains to kids how Paul created world wonders such as the Grand Canyon. While traveling with Babe he saves people from swarms of bees and he becomes some sort of hero while also fighting Old Man winter to save his lumber jack crew. This book would be good for a short read, and children who are more interested in the illustration aspect of books. This being said the illustrations are child friendly and very much like a normal comic book.

[Christina]

The story of Paul Bunyan is one of my favorites! Paul Bunyan was the largest man whom ever existed. This lumber jack had a best pal, Babe the Blue Ox. He is one of the tallest tales (pun intended) and his story has been shared many different ways. This graphic novel could be used along with other Paul Bunyan tales as a way to compare different types of expressive writing. It is also a great way to introduce the idea of exaggeration.

**If teaching on the range, there is a Paul Bunyan Land in the Brainard Area (Great idea for a fun field trip to go along with the unit)

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because i love the story of Paul Bunyan and i thought it would be interesting to read it as graphic novel. Also i loved the funny drawings.
I loved this book because i like any kind of graphic novel. It was also very funny and the pictures were great.
I think people who doesnt like reading should read this book. Its more interesting than just reading a book because there are pictures.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a higher interest level but lower reading level, this book would be a fitting inclusion to a text set about folk tales! Paul Bunyan is a memorable character, and this story lends itself to older readers. I would use the book in my classroom as a centers book, or a group reader.

Interest Level: 4-8
Reading Level: 2.8
AR Points: 0.5

Awards: N/A

Primary Bookshelf: Traditional

Genre: Folklore, Picture Book, Fiction

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite of the bunch. Partially because Paul Bunyan was always my favorite, but mostly because the artwork and storytelling in this was hilarious! Reading it was like watching something on the Cartoon Network. Bright and weird and outrageous...just like Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Super funny. And again, like the rest of the series, has little extras for classrooms. I can imagine it would be super fun to read this for class.

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My students are completely obsessed with Stone Arch's graphic novel-style folk tales and tall tales.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this glimpse into the life of one of America's most beloved Tall Tales. This reselling is fun and witty and easy to read. It could easily be an older storytime book.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel with a vocabulary list and study guide.