Paul ­Bunyan: The Invention of an American Legend

Gr 4-6–On a cold Minnesota day in 1914, the folks of a stopped train gather around a fire to tell stories. Inspired by their one-upmanship, an advertiser from the Red River Lumber Company shares the unbelievable origins and adventures of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. With dramatic flair, he claims this admired lumberjack was so large that nature itself shifted in his wake. His story captures his audience, as does this graphic novel with its narrative presentation and “old-time” cartoon style. Knowing that legends often upstage the truth, Van Sciver demonstrates the power of stories and wisely has characters interject at intervals to remind readers of the consequences of tall tales. But he rushes at the end to include important details about First Nations people and the invasion by the American government. While the format makes the topic engaging, those seeking more information about the history will need to look to the foreword and afterword, which recount the effects of colonization and how stories like Paul Bunyan’s played a role. These provide First Nation perspectives, photographs, and information about William B. Laughead’s marketing tool for American occupation.