John Henry the Steel-Driving Man

Gr 2–4—These books do an admirable job of presenting their subjects. Each one begins with an introduction that sets the stage, providing context for time and place. Then the tale about each character continues, gleaned from highly respected folklore sources. The writing is rich in imagery and figurative language without being unduly wordy or flowery. "John Henry was born on a night as black as the belly of a mountain. Dark clouds covered the moon. Lightning flashed. Thunder pounded the earth like a hammer." "The first time he [Paul Bunyan] cried, the birds fell out of the trees. After that all the critters wore earmuffs." "Juan tried; to do just what his mother told him to do. But he kept getting mixed up." The illustrations, while not outstanding, often add touches of humor. Back matter includes a section outlining the history of the character, a note about the sources used, a "Words to Know" section, and information about the author and illustrator. Serviceable additions for collections wishing to supplement information on these characters.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ