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John Henry, Hammerin' Hero: The Graphic Novel
Born with a hammer in his hand, John Henry was destined to become a steel-driving legend. As a young man, he makes his mark on the American railroads, whistling while he works. But one day, a shady salesman comes to the railroad camp, claiming that his hammering machine is superior to any railroad worker. John Henry steps up to challenge the man's machine, hoping to save the jobs of thousands of railroad workers. But will John Henry be able to prove that a machine can't do what a man can?
- GenresGraphic NovelsHistorical
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Stephanie True Peters
132 books9 followers“By all appearances, I am a typical suburban mother,” reports Stephanie True Peters. “I’m forty-three, have two children, Jackson, age 11, and Chloe, age 9, and a husband, Dan, who to me seems ageless. I live in a nice neighborhood in a town just far enough south of Boston to be considered the boonies. I do the grocery shopping, the cleaning (well, sometimes), go to the gym, and operate the ride-on lawnmower with some regularity. Yes, I fit the role of typical suburban mother to a T.
“Perhaps this explains the surprised reactions I receive when I tell people that I write children’s books. ‘You do? Really?’ their raised eyebrows and open mouths seem to say. Then come the usual questions: ‘Have you ever been published? Would I know anything you’ve done?’
“I have, and I certainly hope you recognize the titles of some of my books. (If not, feel free to pick one up sometime—or two, or three . . .)
“That I am able to spend my days at such work is, on the whole, wonderful. I lose myself for hours in imagined scenarios, made-up people, or buried in research into a fascinating topic. I’m here when my kids and husband need me and can take a day off when I need some ‘me’ time. Sometimes I miss the office life I had years ago, when I was an editor at Little, Brown Children’s Books. Then I compare my commute then (a long ride on public transportation) versus now (a short climb up a flight of stairs) and realize just how lucky I am.
“Yet if it hadn’t been for those years with Little, Brown, I wouldn’t have been part of this amazing White House book. It was my old colleague and friend, Hilary Van Dusen, who contacted me about the project. She wanted to include a piece on sports and the presidency. She knew I was tapped into the sports scene because I had edited many of Matt Christopher’s sports books while at Little, Brown—and more recently, had been ghostwriting them.
“In the course of my research for the piece, I learned that many U.S. presidents had ties to the baseball, starting as far back as George Washington. But the story that stuck with me was the one that now appears in the book – the first World Series game to take place after the tragic events of 9/11, and George W. Bush’s throwing of the game’s first pitch.
“Perhaps this explains the surprised reactions I receive when I tell people that I write children’s books. ‘You do? Really?’ their raised eyebrows and open mouths seem to say. Then come the usual questions: ‘Have you ever been published? Would I know anything you’ve done?’
“I have, and I certainly hope you recognize the titles of some of my books. (If not, feel free to pick one up sometime—or two, or three . . .)
“That I am able to spend my days at such work is, on the whole, wonderful. I lose myself for hours in imagined scenarios, made-up people, or buried in research into a fascinating topic. I’m here when my kids and husband need me and can take a day off when I need some ‘me’ time. Sometimes I miss the office life I had years ago, when I was an editor at Little, Brown Children’s Books. Then I compare my commute then (a long ride on public transportation) versus now (a short climb up a flight of stairs) and realize just how lucky I am.
“Yet if it hadn’t been for those years with Little, Brown, I wouldn’t have been part of this amazing White House book. It was my old colleague and friend, Hilary Van Dusen, who contacted me about the project. She wanted to include a piece on sports and the presidency. She knew I was tapped into the sports scene because I had edited many of Matt Christopher’s sports books while at Little, Brown—and more recently, had been ghostwriting them.
“In the course of my research for the piece, I learned that many U.S. presidents had ties to the baseball, starting as far back as George Washington. But the story that stuck with me was the one that now appears in the book – the first World Series game to take place after the tragic events of 9/11, and George W. Bush’s throwing of the game’s first pitch.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 15, 2017
The boy really liked this one and wants to learn more about John Henry.
April 17, 2018
John Henry: Hammerin’ Hero The Graphic Novel Retold by Stephanie True Peters
Genre: Folklore
Grade: 3-6
John Henry is one of the first characters who comes to my head when I hear the word folklore. The book “John Henry: Hammerin’ Hero The Graphic Novel” is a powerful book that retells the bigger than life story of the folklore character John Henry. Right when John was born his parents could tell he was full of surprises. As a baby that was the size of a toddler with a hammer in his hand, his parents knew he would do great things in his life. Once the North won the war and slaves were freed, John Henry went out to find himself a job. It seemed whatever job he had he worked as hard as possible which was at least twice the normal worker. He was always curious how things worked and was full of questions for his bosses. One day he discovered the railroad which caused an immediate itch to put a hammer in his hand. John Henry worked the hardest on the railroad until one day when his strength was put to the test and he wasn’t sure if he would win.
This book would be great in a classroom for grades 3rd-6th. It can be used in a variety of ways depending on the students’ age or grade level. This is a good book to introduce graphic novels and how they are written. In the back of the book there is information which discusses if John Henry is a man or a myth. It brings up the history of the railroad which this book could be a wonderful hook to grab the students attention and curiosities. For the older grades like 5th or 6th, there are two sections in the back of the book, Discussion Questions and Writing Prompts. The questions and prompts make students reflect on the book and also on their lives by how they can relate to the book.
This is a Wow book for me because of the way it gathered and kept my attention through the illustrations, story and extras. The illustrations in the book make it so appealing and eye catching. They truly tell the story of John Henry so it does not have to be imagined in your head. I love that this book has a glossary, an article about John Henry the man or myth, discussion questions and writing prompts. This book was made to be used as an education text with lesson extensions included.
Genre: Folklore
Grade: 3-6
John Henry is one of the first characters who comes to my head when I hear the word folklore. The book “John Henry: Hammerin’ Hero The Graphic Novel” is a powerful book that retells the bigger than life story of the folklore character John Henry. Right when John was born his parents could tell he was full of surprises. As a baby that was the size of a toddler with a hammer in his hand, his parents knew he would do great things in his life. Once the North won the war and slaves were freed, John Henry went out to find himself a job. It seemed whatever job he had he worked as hard as possible which was at least twice the normal worker. He was always curious how things worked and was full of questions for his bosses. One day he discovered the railroad which caused an immediate itch to put a hammer in his hand. John Henry worked the hardest on the railroad until one day when his strength was put to the test and he wasn’t sure if he would win.
This book would be great in a classroom for grades 3rd-6th. It can be used in a variety of ways depending on the students’ age or grade level. This is a good book to introduce graphic novels and how they are written. In the back of the book there is information which discusses if John Henry is a man or a myth. It brings up the history of the railroad which this book could be a wonderful hook to grab the students attention and curiosities. For the older grades like 5th or 6th, there are two sections in the back of the book, Discussion Questions and Writing Prompts. The questions and prompts make students reflect on the book and also on their lives by how they can relate to the book.
This is a Wow book for me because of the way it gathered and kept my attention through the illustrations, story and extras. The illustrations in the book make it so appealing and eye catching. They truly tell the story of John Henry so it does not have to be imagined in your head. I love that this book has a glossary, an article about John Henry the man or myth, discussion questions and writing prompts. This book was made to be used as an education text with lesson extensions included.
July 30, 2017
Beautifully illustrated book about the legend of John Henry. I'm definitely planning to add this to my student library.
October 5, 2025
This was okay. I guess I didn't see what apparently many others saw in this fast juvenile fantasy read.
April 28, 2010
Not as good as the Pecos Bill volume, but still pretty good. Nelson Evergreen's art was a treat. Stephanie Peters needs to get a better handle on geography. She has John Henry born and raised a slave in the south, then going north to reach a mighty river with steamboats. The river isn't named, but it seems to be either the Ohio or the Tennessee. With me so far? Then, he travels WEST to build railroads, where he meets his end driving steel to cut a tunnel which, as it happens, was in Virginia. Unless his westward travel took him all the way around the globe, that puts his original home somewhere on a slave plantation in the middle of the Atlantic...or the author got it backwards, or she didn't know that the John Henry story is very famous for taking place in Virginia. Luckily she didn't write the Pecos Bill volume of the series, or he might have been a cowboy in Maine...
Other than losing her sense of direction, Stephanie Peters did a good job with the story, covering the highlights of the legend pretty well. Her riverboat digression was a mistake, though, in such a short book.
Other than losing her sense of direction, Stephanie Peters did a good job with the story, covering the highlights of the legend pretty well. Her riverboat digression was a mistake, though, in such a short book.
May 24, 2011
I read this book because my teacher had assigned the class. She had told us to read a graphic novel. A graphic novel is basically a photo story or a better type of comic book. It also is true at times and myths at times.
I really liked this book because it was very good. John Henry is one of my favorite myths. The part i like the most is the challenge he takes with the machine to beat it.
I think my dad should read this book. It sorta kinda reminds me of my dad as John Henry because hes real buff. I think he would like this book too.
I really liked this book because it was very good. John Henry is one of my favorite myths. The part i like the most is the challenge he takes with the machine to beat it.
I think my dad should read this book. It sorta kinda reminds me of my dad as John Henry because hes real buff. I think he would like this book too.
May 10, 2010
This graphic novel is a straightforward retelling of John Henry's legend for young readers, but I picked it up for the art. Different styles appeal to different readers, and this one speaks to me. I absolutely love these pictures and am glad to have spent time dwelling in them.
June 30, 2016
Continuing my journey down nostalgia avenue, we have John Henry. His story isn't as wild and ridiculous as some others, but he is still pretty damn impressive as it goes. Again, this includes discussion questions and prompts for classrooms.
March 28, 2011
Not as good as Johnny Cash's version of the story, but decent.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews