ELA

What are the ingredients of a tall tale? Like any story, a tall tale includes characters, a setting, a problem and a solution. But in a tall tale, ordinary characters -- whether fictional or based on real people or occupations -- may face extraordinary challenges and prevail with outlandish solutions, or may conquer ordinary problems in inventive ways.

Meet Pecos Bill. Raised by coyotes in dusty Texas, he grew up to be the roughest, toughest cowboy who ever lived. Whether riding a tornado, inventing the original cowboy song or conquering a gang of outlaw cowboys, Pecos Bill is a man of many talents.

Meet John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Living in harmony with nature, he fulfills his dream of traveling west to plant apple orchards across the frontier to aid pioneers on their arduous journeys.

Meet Davy Crockett -- a legendary hunter, politician and avid storyteller who tames the wild frontier with sharpshooting, cleverness and plenty of humor. Battling bears and panthers, dislodging the sun from between two icebergs and whipping a destructive comet back into space are all in a day's work for Davy.

From sea to shining sea, the United States is a country full of tall tales! Take the story of Mike Fink and Annie Christmas, legendary keel boat captains who battle with strength and skill on the waters of the mighty Mississippi River.

Meet Phoebe Ann Moses, better known as Annie Oakley. In the world of champion shooters, nobody stands taller. Born into poverty, things change for Annie and her family when she discovers her unique talent for sharpshooting.

Meet Mose Humphreys, the toughest firefighter in the nation's toughest neighborhood -- the Bowery in New York City. As a boy, Mose's great size, speed and strength makes him one of the best fire company runners of all time, but he longs for the day when he can become a full-fledged firefighter.

Meet Alfred Bulltop Stormalong, better known as Old Stomalong. Born in the briny waters of Cape Cod, he is a sea dog at heart. His enormous size and stature isolates and saddens Stormy, but doesn't stop him from proving himself as a first-rate shipboard lookout and navigator.