Synopsis
Presents the life story of the enormous lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, who along with his blue ox Babe, is said to have made the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota with his footsteps.
Candace Deisley - Children's Literature
This is the well-known tall tale retold for younger children with illustrations that match. The colorful language has been stripped away, leaving a text that would be comfortable reading for a third grader. The pictures seem more appropriate for a kindergartner, even bordering on the "cutesy," but the story is too long and dry for that age. The narration is displayed in two columns, which is distracting. A glossary explains vocabulary (like amazement, rumble, muscles, and hornswoggled). Four additional facts are given, as are five book titles, three Web sites, a place to write for more information, and the address of the official "Paul Bunyan Logging Camp." In trying to be all things to all children, this book fails to be much of anything. It seems to be a compromise between an "easy reader" and a storybook, but sacrifices the better part of each. 2003, Compass Point Books,