Talk to me about tall tales, please!

[AMJ]

When I was in high school, in American literature class we covered tall tales, including many that I grew up with, like Paul Bunyan. My question is this: are tall tales strictly an American literary feature, or do other nations and cultures have their own? Where can we find out about tall tales from around the world?

[*lifeoftheparty*]

Other countries have them too! When DS was in Preschool we did Sonlight and read a book called "Stories from Around the World" and it contained "Tall Tale" type stories form all over- and it's a beautiful book too :)

 

DS will be reading American Tall Tales next year :)

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0794501109/ref=aw_d_dsc_books?qid=1400211160&sr=8-1

[Alessandra]

That is an interesting question, and I would like to hear what people say. Mary Pope Osborne, in the introduction to her book, American Tall Tales, says they are American. I love this genre. Core Knowledge has tall tales as part of literature in several early grades. Specific editions are recommended in CK Books to Build On -- I have most of theses, and they are great. Boy Scouts also has a Bear level award for tall tales -- ds did it, fun.

 

Sorry, I haven't answered your question,, but wanted to add that I also like trickster tales, such as the Anansi ones from Africa.

 

ETA wiki has a few from other cultures, but mainly American, fwiw.

 

Jim Weiss has an American Tall Tales cd.