Paul Bunyan

Paul Bunyan is a famous character from American tall tales. He was a giant lumberjack who was as tall as a mountain. His best friend was a huge blue ox named Babe. Stories about Paul Bunyan were told by loggers in the forests of the northern United States.

A Giant Baby

Paul Bunyan was enormous from the day he was born. It took five giant storks to deliver him. When he rolled over in his sleep, he knocked down acres of trees. His parents had to move him to the Maine woods where he had room to grow.

Amazing Feats

Paul Bunyan did incredible things that no normal person could do. He dragged his axe behind him and created the Grand Canyon. He scooped out the Great Lakes to give Babe the Blue Ox water to drink. Loggers loved to tell bigger and bigger stories about Paul at the end of a long workday.

Fun Facts

• Babe the Blue Ox measured 42 ax handles between the eyes.
• Paul Bunyan stories were used in a 1916 advertising campaign for a lumber company.
• Giant statues of Paul Bunyan stand in several towns across the United States.

Did You Know?

Paul Bunyan tall tales are an example of American folklore that grew from the logging camps of the 1800s. Workers would try to outdo each other with the most outrageous stories about his size and strength!