He was a good deal of wit, a quality which won him the admiration, but at the same time excited the fears, of the whole boating fraternity. In addition to the exaggerated and imagined feats that make up his story, it. Davy crockett, tall tales, and history nehedsitement. Mike fink is a prime character in the 2007 youngadult historical novel mississippi jack by louis a. Mike fink coloring page clipart is great to illustrate your teaching materials. Mike fink, a character in early western history, whose wellauthenticated performances were so remarkable as to appear rather the creations of fancy than actual occurrences, was a native of pittsburg, pennsylvania. Mike fink was king of the keelboatmen the strongest, rowdiest bunch of fellows ever to work on the. He used to spell his name micke phinck and he loved to affect the extremes of barbarous jargon that characterized the. They dont make em like mike these days, now do they. The historical fink was a cruel man who came to a violent end, but kellogg depicts him as a friendlylooking, funloving youth. Before taking his place on the rivers he allegedly took part in the indian. Mike fink his language was a perfect sample of the halfhorse, halfalligator dialect of the early race of boatmen.
Books and authors top teaching blog teachers tool kit student activities the teacher store. Mike fink, born 177080, fort pitt now pittsburgh, pa. Mike fink, american keelboatman of the old west, who became the legendary hero of the american tall tale. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. A tall tale, illustrated by steven kellogg stay safe and healthy. If the first search yields to many results, then try entering more search criteria to reduce the search results. Mike fink is a young man with a lot to prove and a good heart. Paul bunyan, johnny appleseed, john henry, davy crockett, or mike fink. Other repeating episodes, of the mike fink legends, include a tale where he shoots the scalp lock from the head of an indian, and a story. Some of them, like crokett, were real, but all have become the subject of tall tales. As in his other books, kelloggs account of fink incorporates tall tales with vivid illustrations highlighting the main characters positive side. Julius lesters folksy retelling of a popular africanamerican folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. One of the tall tales in the series that began with paul bunyan, this merry book features fink, grizzlybear wrestler and king of the mississippi river keelboatmen. North dakota, american keelboatman of the old west, who became the legendary hero of the american tall tale as a youth fink won fame as a marksman and indian scout around fort pitt.
Mike fink by steven kellogg read aloud for kids youtube. Jun 17, 2011 image source we met mike fink briefly last week. This is a folksy history of the united states, told as if the characters were all real. Later, when keelboats became the chief vessels of commerce on the ohio and mississippi rivers, he became the king of. A tall tale by steven kellogg, john henry by julius lester, mike fink. This panoramic if completely untrue history begins with columbus. A tall tale, illustrated by steven kellogg steven kellogg. Half horse half alligator the growth of the mike fink legend by walter and meine blair and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Morrow junior books firm relates the extraordinary deeds of the frontiersman who became king of the keelboatmen on the mississippi river. Mike fink was king of the keelboatmen the strongest, rowdiest bunch of fellows ever to work on the mississippi. The hero does not like what others call progress e. A tall tale introduction to the king of the keelboatmen, from the time he ran away from home at the age of two clays to his literally explosive confrontation with steamboat captain hilton b. Mike fink, the largerthanlife hero of one of americas favorite tall tales, was the most daring and rugged frontiersman on any american river.
See more ideas about tall tales, traditional literature and tall tales activities. Along with his perhaps better known contemporary, davy crockett, mike fink looms large in the folklore of the early american frontier, maybe even larger than he was in life. Mike fink by steven kellogg 1998, paperback for sale online. This was the second time i had read this version of the tale of mike fink, and i enjoyed it even more now than when i read it ten years ago. Mike fink could supposedly wrestle crocodiles into submission and other such feats of strength practically from the time he was a baby, and although he was challenged many times by other river men in the. A runaway at two days old, mike eventually grew up to be king of the keelboatmenthe strong, rowdy men who floated cargo downriver to new orleans and poled their heavy. Relates the extraordinary deeds of the frontiersman who became king of the keelboatmen on the mississippi river. Sal fink ohio river 1820s1840s mississippi screamer san souci, robert. Overall, mike fink is a fantastic story that really details the adventures of one of the lesser known tall tale heroes in a humorous and adventurous way. Mike fink, king of the river a patriots history of the. Hes another tall tale character, although in this case the legends are based on a real man who was born near pittsburgh, pennsylvania around 1770 or 1780.
The illustrations in the book are great and really detailed and children will love just looking at the book. Mike fink, the largerthanlife hero of one of americas favorite tall tales, was the. Mike fink lesson overview the purpose of the lessons in this unit is to help ohio students in grades 37 learn the characteristics of the. See more ideas about tall tales, childrens books, picture book. A runaway at two days old, mike eventually grew up to be king of the keelboatmenthe strong, rowdy men who floated cargo downriver to new orleans and poled their heavy boats back against the current. Anyone who wants to check out the fun adventures of mike fink or find a good book that is all about mike fink, you should definitely give this book a whirl. The unit contains stories on four tall tale heroes. Magic tree house mummies in the morning by mary pope osborne chapter books read aloud duration. Hardcover wdj illustrated book is in new, mint condition.
The watercolortype illustrations are paired perfectly with the story, showing exaggeration of the events that make this tale a tall one. An 1823 feud between fink and two fellow trappers flared into violence that led to finks murder. A tall tale, paperback by kellogg, steven, isbn 06885773, isbn 97806885775, brand new, free shipping in the us relates the extraordinary deeds of the frontiersman who became king of the keelboatmen on the mississippi river. Jerry pinkney illustrates the story with rich colors borrowed from the rocks and the earth, so beautiful that they summon their own share of smile and tears. As a youth fink won fame as a marksman and indian scout around fort pitt. The complicated issues of politics in the 1780s were paralleled by related, reallife dramas far removed from the scenes of government. Mike fink coloring page clipart is provided in jpeg format. Mike fink, called king of the keelboaters, was a river boatman and drunken bully who ran keelboats up and down the ohio and mississippi rivers fink was likely born at the frontier post of pittsburgh, pennsylvania in about 1770 and grew up to be a keelboatman on the flatboats of the ohio and mississippi rivers. He had little education and made ridicule of what he had. Vocabulary vocabulary list vocabulary bookmarks vocabulary word cards vocabulary practice booklet vocabulary test. Although most of mikes renown happened downstream, he was born in 1780 in the shadow of fort pitt, and thus this is included here as a pennsylvania tale.
Steven kellogg relates the extraordinary deeds of the frontiersman who became king of the keelboatmen on the mississippi river. He soon became a folk hero whose name was uttered in the same. It is clear that this is a tall tale as mike runs away from home at age two days. Mike fink 9780688070038 by kellogg, steven and a great. He was a crack shot and the best grizzly and gator wrestler on the river.
Kellogg splashes his customary exuberance across this latest tall tale in the series that includes paul bunyan and pecos bill. Mike fink was king of the keelboatmen the strongest, rowdiest bunch of. Magic tree house mummies in the morning by mary pope osborne chapter books read aloud. A tall tale by kellogg, steven and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tall tales book list scholastic scholastic books for kids. This engaging tall tale is followed by a set of problems that help to develop specific math concepts, and relate to the details in the tale. A tall tale is an interesting tale about mike fink and his adventures on the mississippi river as a child. Students will write their own adventure story based of one of the tall tale characters we have read about.
Johnny appleseed, davy crockett, pecos bill, paul bunyan and john henry have all become heroes of american folklore. With mike fink, author and illustrator steve kellogg gathers up in one story all the classic elements of an american tall tale. A tall tale by steven kellogg illustrator online at alibris. In 1998, childrens author, steven kellogg, wrote a book entitled mike fink. The search engine will try to match all the words that you enter in the search fields.
A talltale introduction to the king of the keelboatmen, from the time he ran away from home at the age of two clays to his literally explosive confrontation with steamboat captain hilton b. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. A tall tale from the worlds largest community of readers. Tall tales text author level location tall tales 4 th grade set connects geography into a close reading lesson mike fink paul bunyan stormalong sally ann thunder ann febold feboldson varied varied reading a. Although most of mike s renown happened downstream, he was born in 1780 in the shadow of fort pitt, and thus this is included here as a pennsylvania tale. Mike was a whole lot more than a keelboater yes, sir. The author of the bestselling pinkerton books now tells the story of mike finkking of the keelboatmen, the strongest, rowdiest bunch of fellows ever to work on the mississippithe best grizzly and gator wrestler on the river.
Paul bunyan read aloud stories and tall tales for kids homeschool read alouds duration. Thus ended the actual life of the king of the river. The a tall tale book series by steven kellogg includes books johnny appleseed, paul bunyan, pecos bill, and several more. Beginning with the infant mike running off to join a troupe of acrobatic. On your first search attempt you should only enter 2 or 3 words as your search criteria.