
When your child feels overwhelmed by a problem that seems too big to solve, this book offers a hilarious dose of perspective and creative spirit. It's a collection of American tall tales about Febold Feboldson, a clever Nebraska farmer who uses his wits to outsmart impossible challenges. He ties cyclones to windmills, cuts thick fog into fence posts, and tricks a plague of grasshoppers. This book champions resilience, imagination, and finding joy in adversity. Perfect for early elementary readers (6-9), it’s a wonderful, lighthearted introduction to folklore that shows kids how thinking outside the box can make any problem seem smaller.
None. The story is pure fantasy and humor. The peril from weather and pests is so exaggerated that it is comedic rather than frightening.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewA 6 to 8-year-old who loves slapstick humor, exaggeration, and stories about clever heroes outsmarting big problems. This is perfect for a child who enjoys thinking "what if?" and appreciates silly, imaginative solutions. It's also a great fit for a reluctant reader who enjoys short, high-action chapters with a big payoff.
No prep needed. A parent might want to briefly explain what a "tall tale" is: a story with unbelievable elements, told as if it were true. This can help a child understand the genre and appreciate the humor of the exaggeration, but the stories stand on their own. A parent might reach for this after their child expresses frustration or feels overwhelmed by a task, saying something like, "This is impossible!" or "It's too big of a problem for me to solve." This book provides a humorous model of reframing "impossible" problems.
A 6-year-old will likely focus on the slapstick humor and the visual absurdity of the events, like cutting up fog. An 8 or 9-year-old will start to appreciate the cleverness of the solutions and the wordplay. They can also better grasp the concept of the tall tale as a specific genre of American folklore and might be interested in the historical context of pioneer life.
While many tall tale collections exist (Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill), Dewey's version of Febold Feboldson is particularly accessible for early chapter book readers due to its simple language, short chapters, and charming, folk-art-style illustrations. It focuses less on brute strength and more on witty solutions, making Febold a great model for creative problem-solving.
A collection of short, episodic tall tales about the legendary Nebraskan farmer, Febold Feboldson. Each chapter presents an absurdly large problem related to the prairie climate (cyclones, blizzards, thick fog, grasshopper plagues) which Febold solves with even more absurd ingenuity. He ties cyclones to his windmill, cuts fog into strips for fence posts, and convinces grasshoppers to eat each other. It's a classic example of American "big man" folklore, focusing on cleverness over brawn.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.