Paul Bunyan

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Do you know how the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River were first formed? How about the Great Plains and the Grand Canyon? Some people think these wonders were established by the forces of nature, but those folks clearly haven't heard of Paul Bunyan, the "strongest, smartest, and tallest hero of the tallest of American tall tales." Paul and his pal, Babe the Blue Ox, were responsible for creating all these geographic features as they worked their way west with their unusual lumber crew. Paul's adventures begin when he is just a baby (who can lift a cow over his head) and continue as he grows into the biggest lumberjack in the world. All the basic stories about Paul Bunyan are here in this rollicking tale, as well as a few inventive incidents added by author and illustrator Steven Kellogg.

Kellogg is well known for his stories about Pinkerton the Great Dane, retellings of classic tales such as Chicken Little, and illustrations for books such as How Much Is a Million? by David Schwartz. But Kellogg's most important contribution to children's literature is his series on American folk heroes, including Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett, and of course, the tallest hero of the tallest tale of all--Paul Bunyan. A great legend and great fun. (Ages 5 to 9) --Marcie Bovetz


-- Parent's Choice
"...Kellogg dedicates his own substantial talent to enhancing Paul's already sizable reputation. He amply succeeds."


-- Parent's Choice
"...Kellogg dedicates his own substantial talent to enhancing Paul's already sizable reputation. He amply succeeds."


Book Description
Who was the largest baby ever born in the state of Maine? Who dug the Great Lakes? Who gouged out the Grand Canyon? Why, Paul Bunyan, of course, America's finest, fastest, funniest lumberman and favorite tall-tale hero.


Card catalog description
Recounts the life of the extraordinary lumberjack whose unusual size and strength brought him many fantastic adventures.


About the Author
Steven Kellogg is the illustrator of over eighty picture books for children, including his own retellings of Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, which School Library Journal declared "one of Kellogg's best books," and Pecos Bill, which Booklist called "a read-aloud treat for the family or classroom."Mr. Kellogg is also the author of Chicken Little, which Booklist said was "one of Kellogg's best efforts to date…a winner every child will like," and Aster Aardvark's Alphabet Adventures, which Kirkus said was "an ingenious alliterative tour-de-farce, perfect accompaniment to the author's zany illustrations.Just try keeping a straight face as you read this aloud." Steven Kellogg lives in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.


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This tall tale was first retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg in 1984 and is now being reissued in paperback. Just as the story of the huge man and his huge blue ox lives on, so do Kellogg's illustrations. Paul Bunyan and Babe are both wide-eyed and innocent, but Paul is always using his amazing powers to solve problems and help folks. In this particular version, he uses his ax to carve the Grand Canyon and fed flapjacks and syrup to the men who leveled the Great Plains and shaved the slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The pages are crowded with fun and humor—Paul holding a watermelon as if it were an orange, a line at the outhouse (the gentlemen's outhouse!), a library in a pioneer town, and wonderfully expressive faces for pioneers and ogres alike. Kellogg's retelling provides a marvelous way to share tall tales with short people and encourage youngsters to create their own legendary characters. 2004 (orig. 1984), HarperTrophy, Ages 4 to 8.


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