Written by anne isaacs in the predictable exaggerated style found within all tall tale narratives, the story of swamp angels triumph over a fearsome bear known as thundering tarnation is one that children everywhere will want to listen to over and over again. The illustrations are unique and they add a lot to the story, showing things that swamp angel did that were not in the text. In this book, angelica longrider is born in tennessee and, in traditional tall tale fashion, she builds a log cabin at age two and saves a group of wagons from sinking in a swamp when she was 12 just by plucking their wagons out of the swamp like twigs, earning her the name of swamp angel. In the tallest tale of all, swamp angel tracks down and fights. Complete summary of ethel davis bryants swamp angel.
Sep 26, 20 this serves to transport the reader to the setting and evokes a historical feeling. It demands to be read out loud, preferably to a group of children or family and friends, with as much of an. Swamp angel by anne isaacs 1994, hardcover for sale. Big ideas for the classroom about the book here is the thrilling, thighslapping companion to swamp angel, the beloved caldecott honorwinning picture book. Zelinskys stunning folkart paintings are the perfect match for the irony, exaggeration, and sheer good humor of this original tall tale set on the american frontier. Students participate in a wholeclass reading of swamp angel, a partner reading of mike fink and note elements of tall tales to analyze text details and identify the central message.
Listen to swamp angel by anne isaacs, allison moorer for free with a 30 day free trial. Swamp angel can lasso a tornado, and drink an entire lake dry. She even singlehandedly defeats the thundering tarnation, the great bear in a wrestling match. This serves to transport the reader to the setting and evokes a historical feeling. When telegraph technology comes to town, jackrabbit mccabe insists he can deliver messages faster than any newfangled contraption. Swamp angel is a tall tale about angelica longrider, the greatest woodswoman in tennessee. Born in 1815, angelica is already as tall as her mother, and by the age of two she has already built her first log cabin. Angelinaa late bloomerbuilds her first log cabin when shes two, rescues a wagon train from dejection swamp hence swamp angel. Angelica continues to grow and when she is twelve years old, she saves a wagon train that got mired in dejection swamp. She singlehandedly defeats the fearsome bear known as thundering tarnation, wrestling him from the top of the great smoky mountains to. Jun 14, 2012 this tall tale is about a little big girl named angelica.
Five western tall tales in awardwinning picture books including the toughest cowboy by john franksaving sweetness by diane stanleyauthor, g. In this traditional tall tale about swamp angel who got her name from saving passengers of a wagon train that got mired in dejection swamp competes against the tennessee men in trying to kill thundering tarnation, a huge bear who ate all of the settlers food. When angelica longrider was born, no one could have imagined her future feats as swamp angel, the great tennessean woodswoman who can lasso a tornado, and drink up an entire lake in a single gulp. Written by anne isaacs in the predictable exaggerated style found within all tall tale narratives, the story of swamp angel s triumph over a fearsome bear known as thundering tarnation is one that children everywhere will want to listen to over and over again. The swamp angel of the title is angelica longrider, who was born scarcely taller than her mother and didnt build her first log cabin until she was a full two years old. Discuss the differences and talk about how they reflect the times in which the tales were written or developed. Angelica longrider is known to the settlers of tennessee as swamp angel. So begins this original tall tale about a woman whod give paul bunyan a run for his money. But by the time she is fully grown, swamp angel, as she is known, can lasso a tornado and drink an entire lake dry. Swamp angel marks the debut of a promising new storyteller and adds to the tall tale traditions a pictorial counterpart that will entertain and endure for a long time. Swamp angel is a strong female character that amazes the reader with her impressive feats. Angelinaa late bloomerbuilds her first log cabin when shes two, rescues a wagon train from dejection swamp hence swamp angel, even tangles with.
Read paul bunyan, john henry, johnny appleseed or other tall tales. Working in an american primitive style animated by the humor and storytelling genius for which he is renowned, caldecott winner artist paul o. Pecos bill read aloud stories and tall tales for kids homeschool read alouds. This is an appropriate approach for a tall tale set in tennessee. Swamp angel is an original tall tale, the first book by anne isaacs. She was born as tall as her mother and could build her own log cabin at the age of two. Jackrabbit mccabe and the electric telegraph is a brand new tall tale about a boy whose legs kept growing and growing until he was faster than even the race horses.
Many tall tales are about men, but this one is about a women. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. This original tall tale follows angelica longrider, the swamp angel, who wrestles a bear and saves. Zelinsky illustratorcomes a wind by linda arms white author, tom curryillustratorboss of the p. Swamp angel became the greatest woods woman tennessee had ever known. Isaacs amusing, folksy account centers on angelicas magnificent battle with a huge bear known as thundering tarnation whod been terrorizing the whole state of tennessee that is, until he crossed paths with the great woodswoman nicknamed swamp angel. This is the tale of angelica longrider, or as some might call her swamp angel. Write your own tall tale about a strong girl or woman.
Angelica became known as swamp angel when she saved settlers in the covered wagons from the swamp, lifting them like there was no problem at all. This tennessee tall tale concerns angelina longrider, who even as a child was a real big gal. A caldecott honor bookan ala notable booka time magazine best book of the yeara new york times best illustrated childrens book of the yearwinner of the boston globehorn book awarda publishers weekly. After a bear has threatened her community swamp angel decided she must conquer it. Swamp angel is a book published in 1994, written by anne isaacs and illustrated by paul o. Swamp angel by anne isaacs and allison moorer audiobook. According to this original tall tale, angelica longstrider, better known as swamp angel, is the greatest woodswoman in tennessee history. Then, have your students write their own tall tale about a famous person in american history. There exist a lot of very humorous aspect to this story, which make it very interesting.
Zelinsky puts oils to cherry and maple for this talltale competition between a tennessee woodswoman extraordinaire and a hungry, fearsome bear. Very much in the tradition of paulbunyanstyle tall tales. This a fun readaloud, especially using a southern accent. Its an original tall tale about a giantess in the american frontier. And some of the writing style was quite fun, in the best folksy, tall tale fashion why, its no wonder stories about the swamp angel spring up like sunflowers. Read other tales about women such as sally ann thunder ann whirlwind crockett. Swamp angel by anne isaacs is a funloving tall tale from tennessee. It demands to be read out loud, preferably to a group of children or family and friends, with as much of an exaggerated hillbilly twang as the narrator can muster. She singlehandedly saves the settlers from the fearsome bear known as thundering tarnation, wrestling him from the top of the great smoky mountains to the bottom of a deep lake in this original tall tale set on the american frontier.
A tall tale is a special kind of hero story because the heroes of tall tales are larger than life. Zelinsky puts oils to cherry and maple for this tall tale competition between a tennessee woodswoman extraordinaire and a hungry, fearsome bear. Words and pictures blend together to tell a wonderful tall tale of mythical proportions. Plot summary in this tall tale we are introduced to angelica longrider, born in 1815 as a frontier woman in the hills of tennessee. A good extension to this project would be to research someone famous in another culture, and then writing a tall tale about their life. The bear left his impression against the stars when she threw him into the sky. Sep 01, 1994 swamp angel is the tale of larger than life angelica longrider. Teaching with tall tales in the upper grades upper. Apr 08, 2018 swamp angel is a book published in 1994, written by anne isaacs and illustrated by paul o.
About swamp angel working in an american primitive style animated by the humor and storytelling genius for which he is renowned, caldecott winner artist paul o. But when she grows too big for that state, she moves to montana, a place so sizeable, even. Swamp angels size is one of those humorous qualities as is the community though that waiting until she was two years old to build her first log cabin was a long time to wait, and having her pick up a raincloud and move it over a burning house to stifle the flame. Like the best tall tales, this one is full of wonderfully humorous exaggerations, all wonderfully illustrated on every page. This tall tale is about a little big girl named angelica. Swamp angel by anne isaacs 1994, hardcover for sale online. When angelica longrider was born, she was scarcely taller than her mother and couldnt climb a. This book would go well with teaching tennessee geography or would pair well with other tall tales.
Sep 29, 2012 in this traditional tall tale about swamp angel who got her name from saving passengers of a wagon train that got mired in dejection swamp competes against the tennessee men in trying to kill thundering tarnation, a huge bear who ate all of the settlers food. One day there was a contest to see who could kill thundering. Thundering tarnation has a bottomless appetite for settlers grub. After youve read a few, email us one of your favorite tall tales. She even rid a nearby town of its troublesome bear and kept the pelt for herself. Discuss the differences and talk about how they reflect the times in which the tales were written or. The theme of swamp angel is a universal theme of good swamp angel triumphing over evil the bear and the taunting man. Swamp angel marks the debut of a promising new storyteller and adds to the talltale traditions a pictorial counterpart that will entertain and endure for a long time to come. As a class, diagram the similarities and the differences in the books. She singlehandedly defeats the fearsome bear known as thundering tarnation, wrestling him from the top of the great smoky mountains to the bottom of a deep lake. Swamp angel has a reputation as the greatest woodswoman and wildest wildcat in all of tennessee. Compare swamp angel to another tall tale book about a traditional hero such as paul bunyan or pecos bill. When angelica longrider was born, she was scarcely taller than her mother and couldnt climb a tree without help. Swamp angel is a tall tale set in the appalachian mountains.
The main character, angelica, is larger than life, literally, and encounters many problems. For example, when a wagon train got stuck in a swamp, angelica lifted their wagons and put them on higher ground. Swamp angel is a tall tale about a female legend who could do anything. Weve got giant mosquitoes, pecos bill, paul bunyan, brer rabbit, and folklore stories that will make you laugh so hard youll bust a gusset. Angelica is quite large for her size and is very helpful to others at a young age. Jan 01, 2000 swamp angel took the bear hide to montana and lay it down like a rug. The setting is skillfully set and helps the reader to understand more about swamp angel and her life. Swamp angel is an impressive heroine in this extraordinary tale. She singlehandedly defeats the fearsome bear known as thundering tarnation, wrestling him from the top of the great smoky mountains.
This activity asks students to use evidence from text for four characteristics of tall tales. I enjoyed reading this tall tale because it was one that i had never heard of before. The entire state of tennessee fed off of the bear, and swamp angel took his pelt to montana, which is now called shortgrass prairie. Jan 01, 2010 this rip roaring tall tale is the continuing story of angelica longrider, first started in the caldecott honor book, swamp angel. The hero this time is a heroine, nicknamed swamp angel, with the strength to rid earlydays tennessee of a giant bear called thundering tarnation. Jan 31, 2017 compare swamp angel to other tall tales. Swamp angel is the tale of larger than life angelica longrider. Zelinskys stunning folkart paintings are the perfect match for the irony, exaggeration, and sheer good humor of this original tall tale set on the american. Swamp angel s size is one of those humorous qualities as is the community though that waiting until she was two years old to build her first log cabin was a long time to wait, and having her pick up a raincloud and move it over a burning house to stifle the flame.
According to this original tall tale, angelica longstrider, better known as swamp angel, is. An original tall tale about angelica longstrider, better known as swamp angel, the greatest woodswoman in tennessee history. Swamp angel took the bear hide to montana and lay it down like a rug. Swamp angel marks the debut of a promising new storyteller and adds to the talltale traditions a pictorial counterpart that will entertain and endure for a long time. The setting perfectly complements the tall tale and one can see that the settlers were certainly of a sturdier stock than most. Swamp angel is about a girl who is nicknamed swamp angel because she once came out of a swamp to rescue a group of wagons that had gotten stuck in the mud.
This rip roaring tall tale is the continuing story of angelica longrider, first started in the caldecott honor book, swamp angel. In the tallest tale of all, swamp angel tracks down and fights thundering tarnation, a huge bear with a bottomless appetite. Brian karasswamp angel by anne isaacs author, paul o. Now a resident of montana, largerthanlife angel befriends her neighbors and sets about taming the wild west. They are bigger or stronger than real people, even when the tall tale is based on a real person. Though no one else in the town can come up with a solution to the bear problem, the swamp angel conquers him.