John Henry (On My Own Folklore)

Stephen Krensky did not have the kind of childhood anyone would choose to write books about. It was happy and uneventful, with only the occasional bump in the night to keep him on his toes. He started writing at Hamilton College in upstate New York where he graduated in 1975. His first book, A Big Day for Scepters, was published in 1977, and he has now written over 100 fiction and nonfiction children's books--including novels, picture books, easy readers, and biographies. Mr. Krensky and his family live in Lexington, Massachusetts.

This volume of the On Your Own Folklore series introduces John Henry. Written in a comfortably folksy tone, the story follows John through a number of tall-tale episodes as he grows from a mere hammer-wielding tyke to a railroad man of legendary strength and determination. In an introductory note, Krensky comments on tall-tale legends, their origins, and the roots of John Henry's story in the experiences of African American men building America's railways after the Civil War. While the narrative has its moments of understated humor, it also involves readers in John Henry's dramatic struggle to beat the machine that "could outdig any man alive." Full of light and movement, Oldroyd's impressionistic pictures effectively illustrate the story without defining every detail, suggesting characters, settings, and actions and leaving plenty of room for imagination. Calamity Jane is another recent volume in the series, which is well designed for young independent readers. Carolyn Phelan
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