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American Tall Tales
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American Tall Tales Hardcover - 1991

by Mary Pope Osborne; Michael McCurdy (Illustrator)

Upstarts like Davy Crockett, giants like Paul Bunyan, and gentle souls like Johnny Appleseed are among the nine "tall" heroes featured in this exuberant, wildly exaggerated, and witty collection of traditional American folk tales. Full-color illustrations.


From the publisher

Mary Pope Osborne grew up in the military, and by the time she was fifteen had lived in Oklahoma, Austria, Florida and four different army posts in Virginia and North Carolina.  After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the early 1970's, Mary traveled all over Europe, and spent the first six weeks of her trip living in a cave on the island of Crete.  She then joined up with a group of European young people and traveled in rickety vans through sixteen Asian countries, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal.  She was a bartender, an acting teacher, a waitress, a travel agent, a window dresser, and a medical assistant -- all before becoming an author!  Now she is the author of many highly acclaimed picture books, early chapter books, middle-grade biographies, and young adult novels.  In February 1993, Mary was elected the 27th president of the Author's Guild, the oldest, most established organization for writers in the United States.

Mary her husband Will spilt their time between an apartment in Greenwich Village, New York and a cabin in Pennsylvania.  They own a terrier named Bailey, who sleeps on the top of Mary's desk every day while she writes!  

From the jacket flap

Celebrating the 15th anniversary of these collection of tales. There are among nine "tall" heroes featured in this exuberant collection of traditional American folk tales, including Paul Bunyan, JohnnyAppleseed, John Henry, and other American folk heroes.

Details

  • Title American Tall Tales
  • Author Mary Pope Osborne; Michael McCurdy (Illustrator)
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition Reissue
  • Pages 128
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, New York
  • Date 1991-09-24
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Maps, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780679800897 / 0679800891
  • Weight 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
  • Dimensions 11.16 x 8.26 x 0.61 in (28.35 x 20.98 x 1.55 cm)
  • Ages 08 to 11 years
  • Grade levels 3 - 6
  • Library of Congress subjects Folklore - United States, Tall tales
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 89037235
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

"McCurdy's intricate wood engravings set these larger-than-life folk on majestic landscapes brimming with energy, rich with wildlife and local color. The author's thoughtful introduction and notes round out this superlative offering."--(starred) School Library Journal.  

Citations

  • Booklist, 03/15/1992, Page 1352
  • Hornbook Guide to Children, 01/01/1991, Page 0
  • Publishers Weekly, 10/18/1991, Page 0
  • PW Notes and Reprints, 01/30/2006, Page 71
  • School Library Journal, 11/01/1997, Page 0

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is the award-winning author of over sixty books for children. Her works include One World, Many Religions; New York's Bravest; Tales from the Odyssey; Adaline Falling Star; and the Magic Tree House series, a New York Times number one bestselling children's book series that has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Ms. Osborne lives in northwestern Connecticut with her husband, Will.

Michael McCurdy is a distinguished illustrator whose wood engravings and drawings have enhanced many books for both adults and children. From 1968 to 1985, he owned Penmaen Press Books, where he produced beautiful small-press first editions by leading American and European writers and poets. He wrote and illustrated An Algonquin Year: The Year According to the Full Moon and edited and illustrated Escape from Slavery: The Boyhood of Frederick Douglass in His Own Words. He lives with his wife, Deborah, in Massachusetts.

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American Tall Tales
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American Tall Tales

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American Tall Tales
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American Tall Tales

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American Tall Tales
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American Tall Tales
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