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Paul Bunyan was one big lumberjack. He was taller than the tallest house.
PAUSE AND THINK: How big was Paul Bunyan?
Art by Jesús Lopez | Retold by Meg Richardson
Paul Bunyan and the Giant Pancakes
From the May/June 2026 Issue
Learning Objective: Students will discuss what makes a story about Paul Bunyan a tall tale.
Lexiles: 520L
Featured Skill: Genre
Standards
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
He was so big, he could use a tablecloth as a tissue. Achoo! When he sneezed, trees would fall.
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
Paul was lonely being so big. He did not know anyone who was big like him. But then he met Babe. Babe was a blue ox that was almost as big as he was.
The two of them became best friends. They went on all kinds of adventures together.
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
Have you heard of the Great Lakes? Those were made by Babe’s footprints.
Have you heard of the Mississippi River? That was made when Paul got tired and dragged his ax on the ground.
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
One day, Paul and some other lumberjacks were cutting down trees. They got very hungry. Especially Paul. What could he make for so many hungry lumberjacks?
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
Then he had a big idea. He decided to make giant pancakes! He dumped 100 bags of flour in a lake. He threw in 300 eggs. The other lumberjacks used paddles to mix it all up!
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
Paul and Babe lit a giant campfire. They tore the metal roof off a barn. Now they had a pan to cook their pancakes.
The other lumberjacks brought the batter over in wheelbarrows. Paul flipped the pancakes with a big shovel.
The pancakes were big and golden brown. They smelled delicious! Everyone sat down to eat. They had the best pancake breakfast ever.
Jesús Lopez/Scholastic
Paul and Babe were ready for another adventure. They said goodbye to the other lumberjacks and kept heading west. But they sure never forgot about that pancake breakfast.
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