Tall Tales

School Library Journal

Gr 4–8—This installment introduces Big Johnson Bone, the explorer who founded Boneville. A fearless Davey Crockett-like character, he defeats a cave bear when just a baby and grows up to best all manner of beasts, including a pack of ratlike creatures intent on taking over the forest. Big Johnson's recklessness in the face of danger results in much humor, as does the commentary of his terrified, sarcastic monkey companion. Smith's quick wit shines through in the exchanges between Johnson and his companions. The colorful art is jam-packed with action, and the characters are enhanced with exaggerated features and movements. The story moves quickly as Big Johnson falls into one predicament after another. This addition to the "Bone" saga will keep readers of the series happy and create new fans.—Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT

Children's Literature - Michael Jung PhD

Fans of Jeff Smith's "Bone" comic books and graphic novels will love this hilarious sequel/prequel to the Bone saga. Beginning after the original saga ended, this story follows Smiley Bone and his rat creature friend Bartleby, as they guide their troop of Bone boy scouts on a camping trip. As night falls, Smiley shares tales of Big Johnson Bone, a legendary folk hero reputed to be so tough that he bested Old Man Winter and skinned a cave bear—all on the day he was born! Other tales showcase Big John's incredible eating skills (he won the Bone County Festival's eating competition fourteen years in a row by the time he was fifteen). Then, when the campers go to sleep, one Bone scout has an amazing dream of the time Big John got blown into the same Valley from the original Bone saga—where he battled fierce Rat Creatures alongside a brave fox, turtle, and dragon! Played more for laughs than the frequently serious "Bone" comic books or Smith's violent Bone prequel Rose, Bone: Tall Tales reads well as a stand-alone graphic novel, making it a great pick for both younger readers and long-time fans of the "Bone" series. Smith and Sniegoski also include a brief tale about Fone Bone and Phoney Bone that takes place during the original Bone saga, and even showcase several female Bone characters for the first time. The graphic novel ends with a sneak peek of Smith and Sniegoski's upcoming Bone novel Quest for the Spark, which should keep fans hungry for more Bone adventures. Reviewer: Michael Jung, PhD

Kirkus Reviews

Bone is arguably one of the most revered graphic-novel series of recent times. This companion volume collects stories from the previously self-published Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails (1999) and adds new material. On a Bone Scout camping trip, Smiley Bone spins campfire yarns to a crew of young scouts, telling them a short story about his infamous cousins and about the history of Big Johnson Bone, the founder of Boneville. In proper tall-tale fashion, Johnson Bone heroically battles Old Man Winter just minutes after being born. From there, he fights and defeats a monstrous tornado with only his bare hands and his simian companion. Following these adventures, the last and longest tale concentrates on Johnson and a menagerie of young forest creatures who must combat the rat creatures who intend to dine on them.Bone is loved for its creativity and ingenuity and for bringing the graphic-novel format into the libraries of many young readers; this volume keeps an easy pace with its predecessors. Lushly colored, brilliantly imagined--a must for every Bone fan. (Graphic fiction. 9 & up)