Customer Reviews

American Tall Tales

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I remember loving these stories when I was a kid. I decided to purchase a collection to re-read, and with my nephews coming for a visit, thought it would be perfect read-aloud material. I received the book a few days before their arrival, looked at the Introduction, and sent it back the next day. I was saddened, but not surprised to see political correctness creeping into even these classics. The author decided that there were items in these old stories that run contrary to our modern sensibilities, such as "conquering nature" and I suppose some issues involving minorities, so she decided to leave out certain things and emphasize the "compassionate side" (author's words) of these tall tale heroes. And of course she had to concoct a female tall tale character (sally windy whirlwind, or something like that) to complete the picture. Look, these stories were written and/or passed down from long ago. Yes, peoples' sensibilities were different. Yes, there are parts of these stories, and so many others, that are, how shall we say, not sensitive to the feelings of some individuals. But that's the way they were written, and that's the way they were told. Come to grips with it. I wonder how this author would react if someone censored her writings? I'll bet we can all guess.

I bought this book for a grandchild. I grew up with the stories and want to share them and the characters with him. Who hasn't heard of at least one of the characters in the book: Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett?

The writing style will be easily understood by children in early elementary. The really exceptional part of this book is the Foreward. It easily and clearly explains how the stories in the book have become part of our US cultural heritage without needing to be an educator to understand it.

I highly recommend it to anyone considering this type of book.

I would give this book 4 stars for the ease and convenience of having most of the major American folk tales and heroes in one volume, but I would have to give it 3 stars for readability and interest. These stories are actually much more interesting than this book makes them.

I think that perhaps the author, in trying to combine as many different original sources as possible for each story, ended up forsaking style for thoroughness.

Tall tales, when done well, have much more poetic flow than Osborne's do. I thought I was perhaps being too picky, but the fact that my two kids (both story lovers and avid readers) were COMPLETELY uninterested in the stories in this book validates what I had concluded - this volume is pretty much uninspired.

This is a great collection of Tall Tales- includes classics like Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, John Henry, Davy Crockett, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, and Johnny Appleseed. Also includes some I hadn't heard before- Old Stormalong, Mose, and Febold Feboldson. My students enjoyed hearing the stories, but there weren't many pictures. I'd still recommend this as it is a comprehensive collection.

This is an excellent collection of american folktales which both I and my siblings have enjoyed. It is well written and very enjoyable on the whole.

I had to buy this book for an education class i am taking, and I very much enjoyed it. It is a wonderfully told collection of American Folk Tales which both me and my siblings have enjoyed.