Johnny Kaw
Five minutes after his birth, Johnny Kaw is over six feet tall and still growing. When he outgrows his crib and even their town, his parents decide to move west where "little" Johnny can have plenty of room to play. After the family crosses the wide Missouri River to Kansas, Johnny sits down to play with his dog. His bottom ends up making the valley where his family will settle. And when Johnny clears stones from a field so his father can plow, he ends up creating the Rocky Mountains in the process. The legendary folk hero shapes the state's landscape by carving out valleys and creating prairies with his bare hands. Why, he even takes on a tornado when it threatens the family farm. -Sleeping Bear Press http://sleepingbearpress.com/shop/show/11585
Title: Johnny Caw by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Brad Sneed, 2013
Description: "Based on a fictional Kansas character, a very large Johnny Kaw clears the plains, tames a tornado, and creates the Rocky Mountains by throwing boulders in this original tall tale
Ages: 4-8
Review: K-Gr 2 — This folk hero is larger-than-life in every sense of the word. In an effort to find a farm big enough for their boy, who seems to "gain a pound every hour," the Kaw family heads westward. After crossing the Missouri River into what will become Kansas, the Kaws feel that they have found a home. In true tall-tale fashion, Johnny then clears the land by hand and thus creates the Rocky Mountains; stands up to and tames a cyclone with his scythe; and, with a single breath, plants "miles and miles" of wheat. Prairie life is sweet for the devoted family, but the passing of time brings the inevitable passing of Johnny's beloved mother. The story ends on a positive note, however, with Johnny acknowledging that her strong spirit will always be with him. The book is written in rhythmic prose that lends itself to read-alouds as well as independent reading. Sneed's full-color illustrations in his exaggerated style serve the tale well and showcase not only the humor but also its tenderness. The story should have broad appeal in the Sunflower State, but readers in the rest of the country will also enjoy getting acquainted with this gentle giant.—Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY --Sara-Jo Lupo Sites (Reviewed April 1, 2013) (School Library Journal, vol 59, issue 4, p142)
*information from NoveList Plus
Description: "Based on a fictional Kansas character, a very large Johnny Kaw clears the plains, tames a tornado, and creates the Rocky Mountains by throwing boulders in this original tall tale
Ages: 4-8
Review: K-Gr 2 — This folk hero is larger-than-life in every sense of the word. In an effort to find a farm big enough for their boy, who seems to "gain a pound every hour," the Kaw family heads westward. After crossing the Missouri River into what will become Kansas, the Kaws feel that they have found a home. In true tall-tale fashion, Johnny then clears the land by hand and thus creates the Rocky Mountains; stands up to and tames a cyclone with his scythe; and, with a single breath, plants "miles and miles" of wheat. Prairie life is sweet for the devoted family, but the passing of time brings the inevitable passing of Johnny's beloved mother. The story ends on a positive note, however, with Johnny acknowledging that her strong spirit will always be with him. The book is written in rhythmic prose that lends itself to read-alouds as well as independent reading. Sneed's full-color illustrations in his exaggerated style serve the tale well and showcase not only the humor but also its tenderness. The story should have broad appeal in the Sunflower State, but readers in the rest of the country will also enjoy getting acquainted with this gentle giant.—Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY --Sara-Jo Lupo Sites (Reviewed April 1, 2013) (School Library Journal, vol 59, issue 4, p142)
*information from NoveList Plus
Title: Johnny Kaw: the Pioneer Spirit of Kansas by Jerri Garretson and illustrated by Diane Dollar, 2011
Description: Who could lop the funnel off a tornado with one mighty whack? Who used Paul Bunyan's nose to dig the Mississippi and gave him his big blue ox? Who flattened out Kansas and piled up the Rocky Mountains? Who was the Pioneer Spirit of Kansas? -- Johnny Kaw, that's who! This rollicking tall tale features a thirty-foot-tall giant who shapes the land and trails of Kansas.
*information from amazon.com
Description: Who could lop the funnel off a tornado with one mighty whack? Who used Paul Bunyan's nose to dig the Mississippi and gave him his big blue ox? Who flattened out Kansas and piled up the Rocky Mountains? Who was the Pioneer Spirit of Kansas? -- Johnny Kaw, that's who! This rollicking tall tale features a thirty-foot-tall giant who shapes the land and trails of Kansas.
*information from amazon.com