The Bunyans

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

One of the rootin'-est, tootin'-est, riproarin'-est heroes of American tall tales is given a whole new lease on life as Wood imagines an entire family of Bunyans. When Paul, the legendary lumberjack, meets Carrie McIntie, a giantess "banging a behemoth pickax against a wall," it's love at first sight. They produce two children, a "jumbo boy" named Little Jean and a "gigantic girl" named Teeny. Wood (The Napping House) exuberantly blends outrageous exaggeration with fantastical geography lessons: Pa Bunyan scoops out Niagara Falls to enable Teeny to shower an infestation of pesky bears from her maple syrup-ridden hair; Ma Bunyan creates Old Faithful by poking holes in Wyoming with her pickax to release hot water for the laundry and dishes; and so on. Shannon (The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza) joins Wood in this rollicking ride with archly humorous illustrations. Who can resist a retired Ma and Pa Bunyan, for example, dressed in leisure wear and playing croquet in the desert? Author and artist clearly had fun here, and readers undoubtedly will, too. Ages 4-9. (Oct.)

Children's Literature - Mary Sue Preissner

In this charming and hilarious tall tale, find out how Paul Bunyan, Babe, Paul's wife, and his two children helped to create some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the United States. Did you know that this family was responsible for the formation of Bryce Canyon, Niagara Falls, Mammoth Cave, and others? Shannon's colorful full-page illustrations will delight all, especially during a read-aloud. Some text is printed on pages that look like a counted cross-stitch sampler with differing designs on each that also relate to the story. The back jacket flap has a small outline of the U.S. with the locations of the natural wonders named in this tale.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-A rollicking original extension of Paul Bunyan's tale. Paul meets a gigantic woman, and he and Carrie are soon married. Two oversize children arrive and play a important role in the formation of many of America's natural wonders: Niagara Falls, Bryce Canyon, and Big Sur, among others. The Rocky Mountains are attributed to Ma Bunyan's efforts to keep the children from wandering off too far, and Old Faithful to her desire for a regular supply of hot water when they camp in Wyoming. Grown up, Little Jean gets restless and leaps up into space. Wood captures the tongue-in-cheek tone and the exaggeration bordering on the ridiculous that characterize American tall tales yet all the while making the Bunyans seem like an all-American family. The story begins in the Victorian era and ends in modern times, which reinforces its absurdity since these natural wonders are not products of recent history. Shannon's realistic, full-color paintings provide a counterpoint to the text, serving to make it seem almost believable. The artist's figures are large and solid and he judiciously puts normal sized people and animals in them to remind readers just how big the Bunyans are. Extensions of folktales are popular now, and this book is a fine contribution to the genre.-Jane Gardner Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4--A rip-roaring look at the oversized Bunyan family, whose massive sizes and misadventures were the cause of many of America's natural wonders. A colossal success. (Dec. 1996)