What do you think?
Rate this book
Swamp Angel #1
Swamp Angel
Swamp Angel can lasso a tornado, and drink an entire lake dry. She single-handedly 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. Caldecott Medal-winning artist Paul O. Zelinsky's stunning folk-art paintings are the perfect match for the irony, exaggeration, and sheer good humor of this original tall tale set on the American frontier.
A Caldecott Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
A Time magazine Best Book of the Year
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Caldecott Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
A Time magazine Best Book of the Year
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
40 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1994
16 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
July 3, 2019
I have never heard of this story and I wonder if it is a real tall tale, but I sure liked it. I love stories about Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill as American myth. This is Swamp Angel. She is about 50 feet tall and she grew up in the wilds of Tennessee and she helped out the settlers. She is a great epic for girls out there. This is female Paul Bunyon.
There was a bear that was huge and needed to be taken care of as it ate up half of all the people’s stores of food in the state and people were starving. The state ordered a bear hunt and Swamp Angel joined the hunt. They fought all over the state and eventually Swamp Angel does best him. She does end up the winner and living in Montana. It’s a rhyming folk tale with some women power in it.
We had a lot of fun reading this. The nephew loved the fight the two had. He laughed at all the silliness of this story. He loved seeing the bear in the stars and his favorite was when Swamp Angel used a tornado to rope the bear. He gave this 5 stars. The niece thought this was funny to and she enjoyed it. She gave this 4 stars.
There was a bear that was huge and needed to be taken care of as it ate up half of all the people’s stores of food in the state and people were starving. The state ordered a bear hunt and Swamp Angel joined the hunt. They fought all over the state and eventually Swamp Angel does best him. She does end up the winner and living in Montana. It’s a rhyming folk tale with some women power in it.
We had a lot of fun reading this. The nephew loved the fight the two had. He laughed at all the silliness of this story. He loved seeing the bear in the stars and his favorite was when Swamp Angel used a tornado to rope the bear. He gave this 5 stars. The niece thought this was funny to and she enjoyed it. She gave this 4 stars.
October 11, 2020
I am usually a huge and appreciative fan of Paul O. Zelinsky's artistry and style, but with Swamp Angel, I actually find his accompanying illustrations to Anne Isaac's prsented narrative both much too over-the top for my liking and even potentially weird and disturbing in certain places (yes, the pictures are expressive, detailed, with a sense of and for both reality and imaginativeness, but especially Angelica's often exaggerated facial features leave me cold, and sorry, some of the depicted wrestling poses of Swamp Angel and Thundering Tarnation have an almost sexual feel to them, at least they do so for me). And while I definitely can see and understand how and why Zelinsky won a Caldecott Honour designation for Swamp Angel, on a purely personal and aesthetic level, his illustrations (this time) simply do not at all work for me.
Furthermore, and as I have never been all that much of a fan of North American so-called tall tales, this original and thus composed offering by Anne Issacs also never really manages to either enchant or entertain me. For as a story in and of itself, Swamp Angel is quite simply too long, and really not at ALL angelic in nature and scope, as I personally have huge issues with the fact that Thundering Tarnation is destroyed, is killed, simply because the bear has ransacked food stores (as from the text of Swamp Angel, it becomes readily apparent that while the beast is indeed a major and annoying nuisance, Thundering Tarnation is also not really ever much of a threat to life and limb, just to the settlers' stored provisions, and I frankly would have much preferred a different ending, with the bear bested by Angelica, chastised, perhaps even being driven off, but remaining alive).
And finally, while I can and do always appreciate traditional tall tales for their folkloristic contents, for their traditional sources (even if as tales, they are generally not all that personally appealing), the fact that Swamp Angel is NOT even based on tradition, but is just an original and thus, for me, rather artificial tall tale type makes it (unfortunately) totally uninteresting to and for me (both aesthetically and especially academically). I do admit and even realise that I often enjoy and even cherish original Kunstmärchen-type fairy tales as simply delightful, readable stories, but I guess I am just not enough of a North American tall tales enthusiast to like (or even much appreciate) Anne Isaac's printed words, her text. And thus, although I do find it cheering to have a strong and Amazon-like woman appear as the heroine, I just am not able to take enough pleasure from the story of Angelica wrestling with Thundering Tarnation, both textually and artistically, for me to rate Swamp Angel with more than one star (was debating a two star rating, but no).
Furthermore, and as I have never been all that much of a fan of North American so-called tall tales, this original and thus composed offering by Anne Issacs also never really manages to either enchant or entertain me. For as a story in and of itself, Swamp Angel is quite simply too long, and really not at ALL angelic in nature and scope, as I personally have huge issues with the fact that Thundering Tarnation is destroyed, is killed, simply because the bear has ransacked food stores (as from the text of Swamp Angel, it becomes readily apparent that while the beast is indeed a major and annoying nuisance, Thundering Tarnation is also not really ever much of a threat to life and limb, just to the settlers' stored provisions, and I frankly would have much preferred a different ending, with the bear bested by Angelica, chastised, perhaps even being driven off, but remaining alive).
And finally, while I can and do always appreciate traditional tall tales for their folkloristic contents, for their traditional sources (even if as tales, they are generally not all that personally appealing), the fact that Swamp Angel is NOT even based on tradition, but is just an original and thus, for me, rather artificial tall tale type makes it (unfortunately) totally uninteresting to and for me (both aesthetically and especially academically). I do admit and even realise that I often enjoy and even cherish original Kunstmärchen-type fairy tales as simply delightful, readable stories, but I guess I am just not enough of a North American tall tales enthusiast to like (or even much appreciate) Anne Isaac's printed words, her text. And thus, although I do find it cheering to have a strong and Amazon-like woman appear as the heroine, I just am not able to take enough pleasure from the story of Angelica wrestling with Thundering Tarnation, both textually and artistically, for me to rate Swamp Angel with more than one star (was debating a two star rating, but no).
March 10, 2024
Paul O. Zelinsky's name on the cover of Swamp Angel caught my eye as he became a favorite illustrator of mine after I read Rumpelstiltskin. Unfortunately, not only is this modern fairy tale strange, Zelinsky's artwork isn't his best. Zelinsky's signature is use of oil paint. His illustrations can be realistic and finely detailed (best seen in characters' faces), a challenge with this particular medium. I was expecting gorgeous artwork in Swamp Angel , but although the illustrations are well done, they don't do justice to his talent. This book's ugly color palette, heavy on yellows and browns, also detracts.
Swamp Angel, an invention from Anne Isaacs, is a straightforward tale about a giant determined to win a competition to kill a menacing bear. The prize is the bear's enormous pelt, with a side prize of a generous amount of bear meat. When I think "fairy tale," I think of unusual or unique magic, fantasy, or magical realism. Fairy tales are special because of their creativity and because of the transportive images they conjure. Swamp Angel is merely a wrestling battle between Swamp Angel and the bear. That sounds exciting, but it's not, and there's no magic or wonder in it despite the presence of a tornado and giant. A wrestling battle is an uninspired, boring battle. Additionally, with its use of slang and colloquialisms (e.g., "varmint," "grub," "licked" [meaning "beat"], and "tarnation"), this book is inaccessible to children reading without an adult who could offer definitions.
The only inventive elements are in the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains (the result of dust kicked up during the match) and of Montana's Shortgrass Prairie (it's the pelt spread as a rug over the land). Otherwise this isn't a fairy tale but a half-baked story of barbarism that villainizes a majestic creature. Zelinsky's artistic talent is wasted, and Isaacs hasn't inspired me to seek out more of her work.
Swamp Angel, an invention from Anne Isaacs, is a straightforward tale about a giant determined to win a competition to kill a menacing bear. The prize is the bear's enormous pelt, with a side prize of a generous amount of bear meat. When I think "fairy tale," I think of unusual or unique magic, fantasy, or magical realism. Fairy tales are special because of their creativity and because of the transportive images they conjure. Swamp Angel is merely a wrestling battle between Swamp Angel and the bear. That sounds exciting, but it's not, and there's no magic or wonder in it despite the presence of a tornado and giant. A wrestling battle is an uninspired, boring battle. Additionally, with its use of slang and colloquialisms (e.g., "varmint," "grub," "licked" [meaning "beat"], and "tarnation"), this book is inaccessible to children reading without an adult who could offer definitions.
The only inventive elements are in the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains (the result of dust kicked up during the match) and of Montana's Shortgrass Prairie (it's the pelt spread as a rug over the land). Otherwise this isn't a fairy tale but a half-baked story of barbarism that villainizes a majestic creature. Zelinsky's artistic talent is wasted, and Isaacs hasn't inspired me to seek out more of her work.
August 5, 2010
There were things I liked a lot about this book. First, it's a very tall tale with a very tall girl and a very big bear. I like the "just so stories" aspect because we learn how the Smoky Mountains were named, and how Ursa Major came to be in the sky (tall tales style, of course). And some of the writing style was quite fun, in the best folksy, tall tale fashion--why, it's no wonder "stories about the Swamp Angel spring up like sunflowers along the wagon trails."
Now, I was not a big fan of the illustrations, which surprised me! And I also was not a big fan of the fact that the story centers around the Swamp Angel taking down the bear Thundering Tarnation. Of course, I understand that back in the day it would have been a serious threat to one's life and family to have a big bear wandering around, eating up stores of food and threatening human and livestock safety. And I suppose this story has a better outcome than it could have done--but I still find it hard to enjoy any story where an animal is hunted.
Also, there is no traditional/historical background to Swamp Angel--it's something from Isaacs' imagination. Sure, there is no reason we can't have sparkly new tall tale sprout up any time, any place--but I think I would have found more reason to appreciate this one if it had been something passed down through the generations.
Now, I was not a big fan of the illustrations, which surprised me! And I also was not a big fan of the fact that the story centers around the Swamp Angel taking down the bear Thundering Tarnation. Of course, I understand that back in the day it would have been a serious threat to one's life and family to have a big bear wandering around, eating up stores of food and threatening human and livestock safety. And I suppose this story has a better outcome than it could have done--but I still find it hard to enjoy any story where an animal is hunted.
Also, there is no traditional/historical background to Swamp Angel--it's something from Isaacs' imagination. Sure, there is no reason we can't have sparkly new tall tale sprout up any time, any place--but I think I would have found more reason to appreciate this one if it had been something passed down through the generations.
August 6, 2010
I read this for the Picture Books club over at the Children's Books group, where this month’s theme is North American folk tales. This one surprised me because it is an original tale; I was expecting and I would have preferred to read a more traditional tale, although, if I’d enjoyed this story and its illustrations more than I did, I’d probably have been thrilled with a brand new tale.
My favorite things about this book were the different wood grains background of the illustrations, the last page where it is told and shown how Ursa Major/the bear got into the sky, and the tall girl protagonist reminiscent of Paul Bunyan.
The illustrations overall were not my favorite. The story was funny, in parts, especially at the very beginning when the girl is born so big and grows so fast. I wasn’t wild about the bulk of the book being about Swamp Angel (who got that name by saving people) and a bear going after each other. Poor bear, though at least he was made good use of, but I’d have preferred the heroine to be saving people vs. in a battle with and killing a bear.
My favorite things about this book were the different wood grains background of the illustrations, the last page where it is told and shown how Ursa Major/the bear got into the sky, and the tall girl protagonist reminiscent of Paul Bunyan.
The illustrations overall were not my favorite. The story was funny, in parts, especially at the very beginning when the girl is born so big and grows so fast. I wasn’t wild about the bulk of the book being about Swamp Angel (who got that name by saving people) and a bear going after each other. Poor bear, though at least he was made good use of, but I’d have preferred the heroine to be saving people vs. in a battle with and killing a bear.
March 6, 2025
An original Tall Tale by Anne Isaacs. This is No. 1 of 2.
October 31, 2019
Anne Isaacs sets out to expand the American Tall-Tale pantheon with Swamp Angel, a Caldecott Honor Book from 1995, producing a humorous and engaging story in the process. With a decidedly tongue-in-cheek tone - when Angelica Longrider was born, the narrator assures us, there was nothing to indicate her future greatness, although she was (as a newborn) "scarcely taller than her mother and couldn't climb a tree without help" - and plenty of narrative excitement, this is a book sure to grab the young reader's attention! The accompanying illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky, whose
Rapunzel
was a Caldecott Medal winner, are vivid and appealing, painted in oil on wooden backgrounds.
I know that some didn't care for this one, finding it too much of a rough-and-tumble kind of story, particularly as Swamp Angel's central adventure involved a protracted struggle with an unruly bear named Thundering Tarnation, but I thought that Isaacs did a marvelous job of capturing the feeling and tone of some of the original stories in the genre. Often, in projects such as these, when an author sets out to create an addition to a well-known (and loved) body of work, the result is glaringly anachronistic, but I could readily imagine Swamp Angel hobnobbing with the likes of Paul Bunyan or Daniel Boone. That's no small achievement, and together with the artwork, lifted this from three stars to four, in my book. Definitely one I recommend to readers who enjoy the Tall-Tale genre!
I know that some didn't care for this one, finding it too much of a rough-and-tumble kind of story, particularly as Swamp Angel's central adventure involved a protracted struggle with an unruly bear named Thundering Tarnation, but I thought that Isaacs did a marvelous job of capturing the feeling and tone of some of the original stories in the genre. Often, in projects such as these, when an author sets out to create an addition to a well-known (and loved) body of work, the result is glaringly anachronistic, but I could readily imagine Swamp Angel hobnobbing with the likes of Paul Bunyan or Daniel Boone. That's no small achievement, and together with the artwork, lifted this from three stars to four, in my book. Definitely one I recommend to readers who enjoy the Tall-Tale genre!
August 6, 2010
2 1/2 stars~I started with Swamp Angel, it looked interesting. I liked the cover and I have to say I wanted to like this book more than I did. The title itself is a promising title. I couldn't really get into the story. I found myself more interested in the illustrations themselves. Again, I liked the cover but once I got inside I wasn't really thrilled. I agree with Kathryn I like the tall tale aspect of the story but I didn't feel it really delivered. I also couldn't get past the tobacco and wine in a children's story.
January 24, 2011
I quite enjoyed this. I read it to my library classes as part of a lesson on tall tales. It worked well in illustrating the elements of a tall tale yet was a story they hadn't already heard. Overall the students enjoyed it, especially the illustrations. This is definitely deserving of its Caldecott Honor! The attention to detail that carries from page to page throughout the story is a lot of fun. Many of my students noticed the dog that appears on nearly every page - even though he is TINY.
A very few students mentioned the more intense part towards the end, but mainly I think because they weren't expecting it. This might not be appropriate for younger students, but the students I teach are older and can certainly handle the touch of violence in this book. I think it fits in well with the setting and time period, though. If a giant bear were eating all of your food stores and leaving you nothing with which to survive over the winter, what would you do? Probably the same thing Swamp Angel did in this story, if you could.
Note: I think this would also work well in a writing lesson as an example of voice and word choice.
A very few students mentioned the more intense part towards the end, but mainly I think because they weren't expecting it. This might not be appropriate for younger students, but the students I teach are older and can certainly handle the touch of violence in this book. I think it fits in well with the setting and time period, though. If a giant bear were eating all of your food stores and leaving you nothing with which to survive over the winter, what would you do? Probably the same thing Swamp Angel did in this story, if you could.
Note: I think this would also work well in a writing lesson as an example of voice and word choice.
February 17, 2014
Swamp Angel is a Caldecott Honor book written by Anne Isaacs and illustrated by master illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky. Zelinsky, known for his beautiful oil paintings, doesn’t hold back for this Tennessee tall tale. For the illustrations, he used oil paint on a combination of cherry, maple, and birch veneers.
Swamp Angel was known for her buckskin bravery. When her town is terrorized by a large bear named Thundering Tarnation who is eating up all of their winter rations, she sets out to find the bear and get rid of him.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but I just couldn’t get into the story and found myself more drawn to the illustrations than to the actual words. I definitely had to go back and reread it a few times as I caught my mind wandering. A few things that I liked about the story were the use of a female heroine and the dialect of the words that kind of forced you to read it with a southern twang. As a teacher, I would use this book with upper elementary students in a genre study of traditional literature, particularly tall tales, and to compare/contrast to the story of Paul Bunyon.
Swamp Angel was known for her buckskin bravery. When her town is terrorized by a large bear named Thundering Tarnation who is eating up all of their winter rations, she sets out to find the bear and get rid of him.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but I just couldn’t get into the story and found myself more drawn to the illustrations than to the actual words. I definitely had to go back and reread it a few times as I caught my mind wandering. A few things that I liked about the story were the use of a female heroine and the dialect of the words that kind of forced you to read it with a southern twang. As a teacher, I would use this book with upper elementary students in a genre study of traditional literature, particularly tall tales, and to compare/contrast to the story of Paul Bunyon.
December 27, 2016
This is an interesting folktale, similar to the "Paula Bunyan" book I read a month or so ago. It's full of tall tales and exaggerations and is a fun story to read aloud. The illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky are funny and have an old fashioned feel.
This story was selected as one of the books for the August 2010 - North American Folktales reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This book was also selected as one of the books for the November 2016- Caldecott Honor discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This story was selected as one of the books for the August 2010 - North American Folktales reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This book was also selected as one of the books for the November 2016- Caldecott Honor discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
November 28, 2025
this is a book my mom read to me while i was growing up and i LOVED it. i just found it at my moms after not
seeing it for 15 years and nearly cried while reading it again lol!!!
i’m actually shocked by the negative reviews. have you no southern whimsy??
i’m 100% counting this in my reading goal too btw nobody can stop me :-)
seeing it for 15 years and nearly cried while reading it again lol!!!
i’m actually shocked by the negative reviews. have you no southern whimsy??
i’m 100% counting this in my reading goal too btw nobody can stop me :-)
July 17, 2021
A fine retelling of the Swamp Angel tale for children, but not my favorite tale or type of artwork. I liked how Zelinsky stayed true to the 1830s aesthetic. Kids will be sure to chortle at the Swamp Angel's antics and the cartoon-like situations of the characters.
August 18, 2010
I actually heard of “Swamp Angel” when I first saw it on one of the “Weston Woods” videos. “Swamp Angel” is a Caldecott Honor Book by Anne Isaacs along with gorgeous illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky and it is about how Tennessee’s greatest woods woman, Swamp Angel, tries to outsmart a threatening black bear named Thundering Tarnation. “Swamp Angel” may have some scattering images that might be a bit irritable for some children, but it still a great read for children who love tall tales!
Seeing as how this was Anne Isaacs’ first book, Anne Isaacs did a wonderful job at writing this story as she wrote this story in a southern dialect as she uses various phrases such as “she lifted those wagons like they were twigs in a puddle” and “seems he’d tried the sweet approach and got licked in more ways than one” and they greatly contributed to the southern background of this story. What I loved the most about this book was the humor and the characters as the humor of the story comes from the battle between Thundering Tarnation and Swamp Angel as they use various odd elements to defeat each other such as Swamp Angel using a tornado to bring Tarnation down from the sky. The character that stood out the most for me was Swamp Angel herself as she is shown as a sweet and strong woman who would help out anyone in her town and even goes up against Tarnation by herself just to get his pelt, which her character would greatly encourage children to go for their ambitions no matter what anyone else says. Paul O. Zelinsky’s illustrations are as usual gorgeous to look at, especially of the image of Swamp Angel herself as she has red pigtails, a yellow bonnet hat, and a blue dress with a white apron in front and is the size of a giant as she takes up most of the pages that she is on. Paul O. Zelinsky has also done a great job at illustrating Thundering Tarnation as a huge black bear who is twice the size as Swamp Angel and also provides Thundering Tarnation with realistic facial expressions that ranges from anger to greed.
The only problem I had with this book was that the illustrations seem a bit scattered all over the pages and what I mean by that is that for example, there are two pages that have five forms of Swamp Angel performing random heroic acts for the people of Tennessee and that might be a bit frustrating for children who are used to seeing one or two people per page performing one act at a time.
I truly think that “Swamp Angel” is an inspiring story about self-confidence and bravery that many children will enjoy and for anyone who love tall tale stories will definitely enjoy this book. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the southern language might confuse smaller children.
Seeing as how this was Anne Isaacs’ first book, Anne Isaacs did a wonderful job at writing this story as she wrote this story in a southern dialect as she uses various phrases such as “she lifted those wagons like they were twigs in a puddle” and “seems he’d tried the sweet approach and got licked in more ways than one” and they greatly contributed to the southern background of this story. What I loved the most about this book was the humor and the characters as the humor of the story comes from the battle between Thundering Tarnation and Swamp Angel as they use various odd elements to defeat each other such as Swamp Angel using a tornado to bring Tarnation down from the sky. The character that stood out the most for me was Swamp Angel herself as she is shown as a sweet and strong woman who would help out anyone in her town and even goes up against Tarnation by herself just to get his pelt, which her character would greatly encourage children to go for their ambitions no matter what anyone else says. Paul O. Zelinsky’s illustrations are as usual gorgeous to look at, especially of the image of Swamp Angel herself as she has red pigtails, a yellow bonnet hat, and a blue dress with a white apron in front and is the size of a giant as she takes up most of the pages that she is on. Paul O. Zelinsky has also done a great job at illustrating Thundering Tarnation as a huge black bear who is twice the size as Swamp Angel and also provides Thundering Tarnation with realistic facial expressions that ranges from anger to greed.
The only problem I had with this book was that the illustrations seem a bit scattered all over the pages and what I mean by that is that for example, there are two pages that have five forms of Swamp Angel performing random heroic acts for the people of Tennessee and that might be a bit frustrating for children who are used to seeing one or two people per page performing one act at a time.
I truly think that “Swamp Angel” is an inspiring story about self-confidence and bravery that many children will enjoy and for anyone who love tall tale stories will definitely enjoy this book. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the southern language might confuse smaller children.
February 11, 2018
Angelica Longrider was born to do big things. Even though she did build her first cabin until she was two years old, Angel, as she is nicknamed by fellow pioneers, quickly earns legendary status by rescuing mud-stuck wagons, putting out cabin fires, and preventing floods. However, when a fearsome beast, a bear named Thundering Tarnation, threatens the well-being of the community, Angel quickly takes matters into her own Paul Bunyan-sized hands and battles the bear to the death. Their land-altering conflict creates the Smoky Mountains and bear constellation, but ends with Angel defeating the bear and winning his majestic pelt. The story ends with a fabulous feast, and Angel’s celebration of her achievements.
Anne Isaacs’ first picture book, Swamp Angel, demands a giant amount of attention and consideration in her adaptation of an American tall tale. The story’s focus on a female character and female heroism is refreshing while the strength of the story lies in humorous exaggeration and breath-taking action. Readers will be entranced as Angel and the bear tangle back and forth. Isaacs’ use of idioms and expressions, such as “varmint” “Thundering Tarnation” “dewdrops on corn”, are fun to read and lend themselves to a pleasurably drawled read aloud. Overall, the telling of the story is authentic and refreshing, like a breath of Tennessee mountain air.
Paul Zelinski’s wood-veneer paints are a worthy companion to Angel’s broad story. Painted in a primitive American-style, the pages bring to mind detailed Colonial-style works as well as the calming Americana scenes of Edward Hopper. The pages are full of details that will engage and delight the reader: time should be taken in any reading of this book to fully appreciate the the expression of the characters and details of their lives. Period dress and pioneer culture find accurate representation: coonskin caps and prairie dresses abound.
Isaacs draws attention to tall-tale that deserves just as much attention as Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Pecos Bill. Angel takes the stage in a way that all readers will love younger readers will enjoy the illustrations and action while older readers will value the illustrations, action, and the story’s central message: having a big heart leads to big things.
Anne Isaacs’ first picture book, Swamp Angel, demands a giant amount of attention and consideration in her adaptation of an American tall tale. The story’s focus on a female character and female heroism is refreshing while the strength of the story lies in humorous exaggeration and breath-taking action. Readers will be entranced as Angel and the bear tangle back and forth. Isaacs’ use of idioms and expressions, such as “varmint” “Thundering Tarnation” “dewdrops on corn”, are fun to read and lend themselves to a pleasurably drawled read aloud. Overall, the telling of the story is authentic and refreshing, like a breath of Tennessee mountain air.
Paul Zelinski’s wood-veneer paints are a worthy companion to Angel’s broad story. Painted in a primitive American-style, the pages bring to mind detailed Colonial-style works as well as the calming Americana scenes of Edward Hopper. The pages are full of details that will engage and delight the reader: time should be taken in any reading of this book to fully appreciate the the expression of the characters and details of their lives. Period dress and pioneer culture find accurate representation: coonskin caps and prairie dresses abound.
Isaacs draws attention to tall-tale that deserves just as much attention as Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Pecos Bill. Angel takes the stage in a way that all readers will love younger readers will enjoy the illustrations and action while older readers will value the illustrations, action, and the story’s central message: having a big heart leads to big things.
March 20, 2018
This is the first time I read a tall tale or if I did before, I can't remember.
Men line up to kill a very scary and very big bear. At the end of the line is Angelica Longrider aka Swamp Angel, a mere girl, but a very, very tall girl.
"Hey Angel! Shouldn't you be home, mending a quilt?"
Says she, "Quiltin' is men's work!"
"Well, how about baking a pie, Angel?"
"I aim to," says she. "A bear pie."
I chuckled at that. Sassy.
From what she says, I pictured her differently than the way the illustrator drew her. She is gigantic, and that's it. Everything else about her appearance, her expressions are banal.
The story had some funny parts. There's a funny image of man folded in two in a big bear trap and it is said that "it took ten strong men to rescue (him) from his own bear trap". There's a guy who got away with two fistful of bear's fur, but the bear got away with all his hair, head and beard, so basically, "he'd traded pelts with Thundering Tarnation (the bear) and got the worst of the bargain."
So nice story overall. A little unease with the killing of the bear. Did he need to die? She could have scared him away, he could have fled, never to return or something.
Men line up to kill a very scary and very big bear. At the end of the line is Angelica Longrider aka Swamp Angel, a mere girl, but a very, very tall girl.
"Hey Angel! Shouldn't you be home, mending a quilt?"
Says she, "Quiltin' is men's work!"
"Well, how about baking a pie, Angel?"
"I aim to," says she. "A bear pie."
I chuckled at that. Sassy.
From what she says, I pictured her differently than the way the illustrator drew her. She is gigantic, and that's it. Everything else about her appearance, her expressions are banal.
The story had some funny parts. There's a funny image of man folded in two in a big bear trap and it is said that "it took ten strong men to rescue (him) from his own bear trap". There's a guy who got away with two fistful of bear's fur, but the bear got away with all his hair, head and beard, so basically, "he'd traded pelts with Thundering Tarnation (the bear) and got the worst of the bargain."
So nice story overall. A little unease with the killing of the bear. Did he need to die? She could have scared him away, he could have fled, never to return or something.
March 2, 2019
Story: 2 stars
Illustrations: 5 stars
This is a very difficult picture book to evaluate. On the one hand, I'm not a fan of the text in which a bear was hunted and killed. Even with a historical time period, that is a hard one to swallow in a picture book. There were so many alternatives, all more creative and satisfying, to the wrestling match and the bear's demise.
On the other hand, the illustrations are original, creative, and worthy of the Caldecott they garnered. I'm quite impressed with the diversity of style and uniqueness of each of Paul O. Zelinsky's projects, and this one is no exception. The oil paintings on wood, with the woodgrain backgrounds, are another artistic triumph for this talented artist.
Illustrations: 5 stars
This is a very difficult picture book to evaluate. On the one hand, I'm not a fan of the text in which a bear was hunted and killed. Even with a historical time period, that is a hard one to swallow in a picture book. There were so many alternatives, all more creative and satisfying, to the wrestling match and the bear's demise.
On the other hand, the illustrations are original, creative, and worthy of the Caldecott they garnered. I'm quite impressed with the diversity of style and uniqueness of each of Paul O. Zelinsky's projects, and this one is no exception. The oil paintings on wood, with the woodgrain backgrounds, are another artistic triumph for this talented artist.
October 5, 2017
I’m not crazy about tall tales and folk tales, but this one wasn’t bad. The illustrations have so many details in them, kids can spend literally hours looking at everything and gathering every aspect of the story. It’s also one of the few tall tales I’ve read that is short enough to read aloud to preschoolers in one sitting. I think kids enjoy stories with larger-than-life characters, and Angel is definitely one of those, and I think girls, especially, would be glad to see a heroine who fights bears with her bare hands!
Read
December 8, 2016I like the folk tale or "tall-tale" aspect of this book. When I was in elementary school we had a unit about tall-tales in the 3rd grade, however they were all about males like Paul Bunyan, etc. I like how Swamp Angel is a tall-tale with a strong, female, lead character who saves the people. That being said, I think this book would be great to use in lesson on tall-tales.
May 27, 2009
Great. Oil paint on cherry, maple, or birch veneer. Sly and over-the-top at the same time with lots of great visual jokes and characterizations and wonderful writing. A female Paul Bunyan set in the woods and mountains of Tennessee. Would definitely buy for tomboy, outsized girls.
August 27, 2010
Neither the story, nor the illustrations did much for me. The faces on the characters made them look like dolls or mannequins to me - stiff, artificial, and overly made-up. The story itself was kind of interesting, but the telling of it seemed a bit disjointed.
May 13, 2013
This book was a hoot to read. It used dialect, which drew a Southern accent out of me as she wrastled with the big ol' bear. Caldecott honor? Caldecott medal, I say.
If you like this book, you may like "John Henry" by Julius Lester.
If you like this book, you may like "John Henry" by Julius Lester.
July 26, 2019
Well that was a little weird but it was also a goofy-fun sort of read.
Caldecott Honor: 1995
Caldecott Honor: 1995
May 4, 2024
I read this book as a kid and thought it was great! Reading it again, I'm still convinced that it is an excellent book!
March 30, 2021
A tall tale of the wild life of Angelica Longrider, who was born in 1815 and became Tennessee’s legendary and greatest woodswoman. She was a female Paul Bunyan who became known as Swamp Angel. Her mightiest fight was with the black bear, Thundering Tarnation, which caused the naming of the Great Smoky Mountains, and her becoming Champion Wildcat. So-so story with illustrations painted on wood.
May 3, 2016
I was a little disappointed with this book. I mean how can you go wrong with Paul O. Zelinsky doing your illustrations (folk-art style)? Even though his paintings are great, this original tall tale, which is kind of like the Southern female version of Paul Bunyun, fell sorta flat. Angelica Longrider, aka Swamp Angel due to her rescuing some pioneers in a swamp, is pretty impressive. She uses rain clouds to stop a house fire, uses her apron to stop a flood, just to name a couple feats. She decides to enter the contest to kill a powerful huge bear nicknamed Thundering Tarnation ("those were the words most commonly heard when he was spotted in the neighborhood"). Nobody thinks she can do it because she's a girl, but she beats all of the men and manages to kill the bear. But then the book just ends. I don't know I thought maybe the author would show her getting presented with an award or something, after spending all that time with the bear, instead of her just walking off in the sunset with the bear pelt. It did however, earn a 1995 Caldecott Honor award. Recommended for ages 5-9, 2 stars.
November 21, 2016
• Swamp Angel is the tale of larger than life Angelica Longrider. 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. Swamp Angel became the greatest woods woman Tennessee had ever known. This larger than life tale tells the story of Swamp Angel and Thundering Tarnation’s epic fight across Tennessee.
• K-5th grade
• I would use this in an English class and a history class.
• Individual students that could benefit from reading this book include students that enjoy folktales and larger than life depictions of stories.
• In would use this in a literature circle with other folktales from the Tennessee area. Students would put together a timeline of events. What happened first and how do you know? Show evidence from the text.
• I would use this book with the whole class when determining elements of a story. Students would determine the characters, plot, setting, action, etc.
• Other books like this include Paul Bunyan
• This is a Caldecott honor book and is available as an ebook or audio book.
• K-5th grade
• I would use this in an English class and a history class.
• Individual students that could benefit from reading this book include students that enjoy folktales and larger than life depictions of stories.
• In would use this in a literature circle with other folktales from the Tennessee area. Students would put together a timeline of events. What happened first and how do you know? Show evidence from the text.
• I would use this book with the whole class when determining elements of a story. Students would determine the characters, plot, setting, action, etc.
• Other books like this include Paul Bunyan
• This is a Caldecott honor book and is available as an ebook or audio book.
August 28, 2017
So one of my first reactions to this was, "Wait a minute- this isn't an original tall tale," which I thought quite snottily, before another part of me heaved a heavy sigh of exasperation at that other part of me. Because if we only read "original" anything, where would that leave us? Would we say, "This story of good and evil was totally already done in the Old Testament"? Like, don't bother ever writing anything because it's "already been done"? Moreover, what would that mean for girls and children of color- they should just be happy with the tall tales that only feature men or boys, or think of John Henry as the only hero they get? No way! So even though I don't like children's books where animals (especially those with speaking roles) die/are killed, and I wasn't super into the illustrations (not bad, just not my favorite style), I appreciate this for filling a void, which is that of a strong female heroine in a tall tale. I also think that if this were read by a Southerner or someone who could do an accent that wasn't terrible, it would be really fun to have read aloud.
September 27, 2009
Swamp Angel is a tall-tale story with a female main character who has giant-like qualities. The setting takes place in a wooded area of Tennesse during the pioneer era. The book's illustrations ties into the setting. Each page is made to resemble grains of wood. The story is contained within outlined frames. The villagers were being attached by a huge bear. They were afraid of it and many had attempted to capture the bear so it would not hurt anymore villagers. When Swamp Angel went to help out many thought she would be unsuccessful but worked itself out in the end. I like how the main character is a female because the tall-tale that I am aware of have the main character being a male. I would use this story when teaching other tall-tales to focus on themes and characteristics of the genre.
March 12, 2013
This story is told in the tall-tale tradition and it tells the story of Angelica Longrider (the female equivalent of Paul Bunyan) on her quest to take Thundering Tarnation’s pelt. It is set in a clear place and time on the Tennessee frontier, 1815, and in style the illustrations really represent the feel of the time period. Picturing Books calls it a stylized painterly technique done in oils, but I would add that it also reminds me of the primitive Americana style by its use of colors, clothing, textures, and representation of subject. Good character traits represented by Angelica are courage, perseverance, and also self-confidence. For children, I would suggest asking some of the older readers to continue Angelica’s story, such as what does she go on to do in Montana, or incorporate Paul Bunyan into the presentation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews