Paul Bunyan is an American legend. All legends have to start somewhere. Many start with a real event or person. The story is told over and over again. People add to the story. Soon it becomes larger than life—a legend.

So how did the legend of Paul Bunyan start? It probably came from mix of tales about two real-life men. Both were from Canada. Both became lumberjacks. Both lived in the 1800s. One had a name that sounded like Paul’s. The other did not.

Mary Johnson lived alone in the woods. She liked living in the mountains. She liked the peace and quiet.

One morning, while doing dishes, Mary looked out her window. CRASH! The dish she was washing broke as it landed in the sink. She saw a large, furry shape outside and ducked below the window.

Mary Johnson lived alone in the woods. She lived in the hills. She liked the peace and quiet.

Mary looked outside one day. She saw something in her yard. It was large and furry. It scared her. She hid.

Mary went to another window. She looked out. She saw an animal. It was tall and strong. It had dark hair from head to toe. It walked on two legs. Was it a bear? No, it didn’t walk like a bear. It walked more like a human. Mary knew it wasn’t a regular animal. It was Bigfoot!

Mary Johnson lived alone in the woods. Mary lived in the hills. Mary liked the peace and quiet.

Mary looked outside one day. Mary saw something. It was big and furry. It scared her. Mary hid.

Mary looked outside. Mary saw an animal. Mary said it was tall. Mary said it was strong. Mary said it had dark fur. Mary said it walked on two legs. Mary said it was not a bear. Mary said that it moved like a person. Mary knew it was Bigfoot!

Long ago, in the time before time, a young boy lived with his mother. The boy did not have a father. The boy desperately wanted to know his father’s identity, but his mother had no answers for him.

“Tsay taaqa, little man,” crooned the boy’s grandmother one morning, “You should go to the Sun and ask him to tell you your father’s identity, for he is sure to know.”

Long ago, in the time before time, a young boy lived with his mother. The boy did not have a father. The boy desperately wanted to know his father, but his mother had no answers for him.

“Tsay taaqa, little man,” said the boy’s grandmother one morning, “You should go to the Sun and ask him about your father. He is sure to know.”

Long ago, a boy lived with his mother. He did not have a father. The boy wanted to know about his father.

His grandmother told him to ask the Sun. “He is sure to know,” she said.

The boy made a special flour. It was made of ground tortoise shell, coral, seashells, and cornmeal. He threw the flour into the sky. It created a path. Today, this path is known as the Milky Way.

The boy climbed this path all the way to the Sun. “Who is my father,” he asked the Sun.

Once upon a time very poor man lived with his wife and nine children in a small, one-room shack. The shack was so noisy that the man could barely think. The shack was so crowded that he could barely move. The man was miserable.

Mendel was the town’s wise man. He was well-known for solving difficult problems. The man was sure Mendel could help him, too. The man went to Mendel and described his problem.

“Do you have any animals?” asked Mendel.

Once upon a time there lived a very poor man. He shared a small, one-room shack with his wife and nine children. The shack was too noisy for the man. The shack was too crowded for the man. The man was very unhappy.

Mendel was the town’s wise man.

The man told Mendel about his problem.

“Do you have any animals?” asked Mendel.

“Yes,” said the man. “I have one cow, two goats, and five chickens.

“I can help you,” said Mendel. “Put the cow in your home. Then come see me in a week.”
 

Once upon a time lived a poor man. The man had a wife and nine children. They lived in a one-room shack. It was too crowded for the man. It was too noisy for the man.

Mendel was the town’s wise man. The man told Mendel about his problem.

“Do you have any animals?” asked Mendel.

The man had a cow, two goats, and five chickens.

“I can help you,” said Mendel. “Put the cow in your home. Come see me in one week.”