‘The Tale of Willie Monroe’ is a juvenile children’s picture book, which is of the tall tale genre. It is about a young man named Willie Monroe who meets a wispy girl named Delilah and her ninety-nine year old grandmother who can out muscle him with their physical prowess. Delilah’s grandmother can even carry a horse single-handedly on her shoulders! Willie stays with Delilah and her grandmother for a short time to ‘toughen up’ and to develop his strength, training to eventually enter a contest of strength in Carolina. Written in the vernacular of the South, this story is an excellent example of a tall tale. The humorous illustrations are colorful and charming, and the story, while seeming quite contrived, is nevertheless, endearing and pleasant. ( )

This is a wonderful story that takes place in the south and sets up the story for a wonderful country feel. The story is a great tall tale of strong men and women, who train to be people of strength and compassion. It displays the fact one must work hard for what they want. ( )