Tall Tales

Welcome to the Internet School Library Media Center Tall Tales page. You will find information on tall tales and tall tale characters, such as Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, Mike Fink and others. This page is part of the Traditional Literature page. The ISLMC is a preview site for teachers, librarians, parents and students. You can search this site, use an index or site map. Revised 6/1/02.

Uniquely American form; usually humorous stories which feature exaggeration.

[Comprehensive Sites] [Bibliography] [Aylett C. (Strap) Buckner] [Calamity Jane] [Davy Crockett] [Febold Feboldson] [Joe Magarac] [John Henry] [Johnny Appleseed] [Mike Fink] [Molly Pitcher] [Old Stormalong] [Paul Bunyan] [Pecos Bill] [Tony Beaver] [General Lesson Plans] [Tall Tale E-Texts] [Students' Stories]

Comprehensive Sites
Characters from "Tall Tales & Heroes" Introduction from Perry Elementary School Drama Club
Southwestern Humor, 1830-1860 History; regional tales (Mark Twain, William Faulkner), outgrowth of tall tale traditions; by Donna M. Campbell, Gonzaga
Characters from "Tall Tales & Heroes" Brief introduction; origins of Calamity Jane, Captain Stormalong, Davy Crockett, John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, Molly Pitcher, Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Slue-Foot Sue; from Perry Elementary School
Ethnicity and Folk Heroes Origins of Mike Fink, Johnny Appleseed, and Joe Magarac; from Rankin Intermediate School
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Bibliography

Regional Tall Tale America. Bibliography From Joseph Lee School, Boston

Aylett C. (Strap Buckner)
Aylett C. Buckner Folklore hero of colonial Texas; from Handbook of Texas
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Calamity Jane
Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane Written by herself; from BlackHills.org
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Davy Crockett
David Crocket (1786-1836) Biography from Lone Star Junction
Davy Crockett Biography from American West
Davy Crockett Birthplace Picture; from Tennessee State Parks
Davy Crockett Biographical sketch, introduction to "Bear Hunting in Tennessee"; from U. of Virginia
Davy Crockett, A Legendary Hero Retelling of some tales, with notes; from Activated Storytellers
Born on a Mountaintop?: Davy Crockett, Tall Tales & History Unit plan, resources from National Endowment for the Humanities
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Febold Feboldson
Febold Feboldson Origins, story; from Folktales from Around the World
"Drought Buster" Nebraska folktale; from American Folklore
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Joe Magarac
Joe Magarac Steel worker of gigantic proportions
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John Henry
John Henry - The Steel Driving Man The man and the tale; includes music; from ibiblio
West Virginia Railroad Images - Big Bend Tunnel Famous from the John Henry tale; at Talcott, WV; from West Virginia Lighning
Polly Ann and John Henry Sample Reader's Theater script from storycart.com
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Johnny Appleseed
John Chapman Johnny Appleseed timeline, Internet resources, bibliography; from Heroes of Ohio
The Johnny Appleseed Homepage Biographical sketch, his contributions, newspaper articles; from Cornell
Johnny Appleseed For kids; from The Processed Apples Institute
Johnny Appleseed Picture Find Picture to color; from National Institute of Environmental Health
Johnny Appleseed Hunt An Internet treasure hunt by Mrs. Vaudo of Seventh Street Elementary
Johnny Appleseed Puzzle From Marshall Elementary School
Johnny Appleseed Second graders from Highland Park Elementary write about and draw Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed Lesson Plan Grade 2; book by Stephen Kellogg; from TeacherView
Johnny Appleseed Goes A'Planting Grade 2; book by Patsy Jensen; from TeacherView
The True Tale of Johnny Appleseed Grade 3; Book by Margaret Hodges; from TeacherView
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Mike Fink
Mike Fink Story from Folk Tales from around the World
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Molly Pitcher
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Old Stormalong

Molly Pitcher Biography from Fort Sill History Page
Molly Pitcher Slide show from Archiving Early America
Patriots in Petticoats WebQuest Investigate roles of various women in the American Revolution>/td>
Alfred Bulltop Stormalong An annotated tale & chantey; by Stephanie Y. Doan
Old Stormalong Story and pictures from Folk Tales from around the World
Stormalong Stories by Mrs. Haver's grade 5
Old Stormalong A re-telling of a tale; from Activated Storytellers
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Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan Trail Tall Tale Illustrated story from Paul Bunyan Trail
Paul Bunyan Introduces the characters in the Paul Bunyan stories
How Did Johnny Appleseed Help the Pioneers Grade K; from AskERIC
Paul Bunyan Lesson Plan Grade 2; Book by Stephen Kellogg; from TeacherView
Tall Tales Grade 3, interdisciplinary; from Association for Advancement of Arts Education
Paul Bunyan Lesson Plan Grades 4 & 5; storytelling; from "School Library Media Activities Monthly"
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Pecos Bill
Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West Story from pbskids.org
Slue-Foot Sue and Pecos Bill
Story from Folk Tales from around the World
Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue Texas folktales; Story from American Folklore. State Folktales
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Tony Beaver
Tony Beaver West Virginia tall tale hero; from Verizon World School
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General Lesson Plans
Tall Tale Rollers pdf file; Grades 4 to 6; mathematics (probabilities); from Mathematics Education Partnership Programs
Stories in the Sky Grades 4 to 8; space sciences, constellations, tall tales, language arts; from AskEric
Tall Tale General Assignment Grade 4; Bibliography & activities
Legends. Tall Tales From Mr. Fullerton's 5th grade class page
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Tall Tale E-texts
American Folklore Famous characters, state folktales, historical folklore, regional folktales, tall tales, ethnic folklore
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Students' Stories
Original Tall Tales, 1998 Written by Fairland's fifth graders; based on books by Adrien Stoutenburg and Steven Kellogg; see also 1997 Tall Tales
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