Larger Than Life by Robert D. San Souci

This story is based on five legends of frontier America. John Henry could dig better that a steam drill. Stormalong captained a huge ship named "Albatross". Sure-Foot Sue and Pecos Bill fell in love. Strap Buckner fought the devil himself. Paul Bunyan had adventures with a blue ox named Babe. All these stories are of people that are bigger than normal, but also kind.

I liked this book because I got a feeling of what the frontier was like. It was interesting how the author used humor when he was telling the stories. The artist drew pictures that helped me imagine the story.

Review by Casey T.

 

The Legend of Mackinac Island by Kath-Jo Wargin

Long ago Earth was covered in water but there were still animals. There was a wise old turtle named Makinauk. Everday Makinauk floated upon the water. When he floated past an animal he would let them sit on his back. Makinauk asked the animals to get soil from the bottom of the sea, but Loon did not make it. The third animal who was Muskrat, got the soil and threw it on the turtle's back and land started to form.

This is a good book because it has great illustrations and a cool legend. I think you would enjoy this book.

Review by Robby D.

 

The Legend of Scarface by Robert San Souci

There is a man named Scarface who everyone laughs at because he has a scar on his face. (He is a Native American.) He wants to marry a very pretty girl but she promised the sun that she wouldn't wed. Scarface tries everything to try to get the sun to undo the promise. You will have to read it to find out if he makes it though.

I like this book because it tells me what the Indians were like. I also like it because the drawings were really good and they had all these cool names like Morning Star, Sun, Moon, and Singing Rains.

Review by David Z.

 

Tales Our Settlers Told by Joseph and Edith Raskin

This book is a collection of short stories that have been passed down from our early settlers. One of the best stories is called "The Baker's Dozen". This story is about a baker and an old woman who wanted a dozen cookies. The baker gave her twelve cookies. The old woman felt mad because he only gave her twelve cookies. She thought one dozen was thirteen. She also felt cheated. Then she and the baker fought and the old woman finally left with twelve. She cursed the baker. Then strange things started happening and to break the curse the baker had to change his way of business. That is why a baker's dozen is now thirteen.

The thing that makes this a good book is that the author's style of writing is the kind I enjoy. This also is a really good folktale book.

Review by Catherine W.