Once upon a summer in the Tennessee wilderness, there prowled a huge bear named Thundering Tarnation, whose prodigious appetite threatened to empty the settlers' storehouses, leaving them without food for the winter. Who could possibly stop him? Many tried, but none could beat that low-down pile of pelts. Enter Swamp Angel, the greatest woodswoman in Tennessee. When some men taunt her --"how about baking a pie, Angel?"-- '"I aim to," says she. "A bear pie."' The ensuing hilarious, outrageous struggle between girl and bear leaves lasting impressions on land and sky.

So has this original tall-tale, winner of numerous awards, made its own lasting impressions on readers around the world.

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Reviews:

Move over, Paul Bunyan, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers. . . Visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember. (starred review, Horn Book)

It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's altered-state, American primitive paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading. (starred review, Kirkus)

Swamp Angel Honors:

*1994 Caldecott Honor Book
*1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
*1994 ALA Notable Book
*New York Public Library, 100 Books Every Child Should Read
*New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 1994
*School Library Journal Best Books of 1994
*Booklist Children's Editors Choices 1994
*Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 1994
*Time Magazine's 8 Best Children's Books, 1994
*Parenting Magazine Reading-Magic Award, 10 Best Books of 1994
*1995 Notable Trade Book in Language Arts, National Council of Teachers of English
*Book of the Month Club featured selection
*Japanese and Korean editions
*featured on Storytime, PBS
*starred reviews: Horn Book, Booklist, Kirkus, Bulletin, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal