American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne, Illustrated by Michael McCurdy

This book of American Folk tales is one of my favorites. The wood engravings by Michael McCurdy are very fitting for folk tales and also show what an excellent draughtsman he is. Folk tales are a part of literary history and Mr. McCurdy has enhanced these tales with his wonderful illustrations.

Davy Crockett

"Just as the panther was about to make chopped meat out of Davy's head, Davy gave him an upward blow under the jaw. He swung him around like a monkey and throttled him by the neck. And he threw him over one shoulder and twirled him around by his tail."

Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind  

"I can outgrin, outsnort, outrun, outlift, outsneeze, outsleep any varmint from Maine to Louisiana."

John Henry

"A man ain't nothing but a man. Before I'll be beat by that big steam drill, I'll die with my hammer in my hand."

Paul Bunyan

"When he was only two weeks old, he weighed more than a hundred pounds,and for breakfast every morning he ate five dozen eggs, ten sacks of potatoes,and a half barrel of mush made from a whole sack of cornmeal."

Michael McCurdy is an illustrator, author and wood engraver. American Tall Tales published by Alfred A Knopf in 1991, was chosen as one of School Library Journal's "Best Books". An Archive of his work covering 48 years as an author and illustrator will be housed soon in the Boston Public Library. Michael McCurdy has close to 600 Wood Engravings in addition to his scratchboard drawings.