John Henry
Sale price
$2849
Picture Book · Ages 7–11 · 2026 · Est. 3 min read-aloud

John Henry

Written by Robert Georgeson · Illustrated by César Samaniego

Part of the Folk Legends series

A railroad worker races a steam drill to prove what people can do.

24 pages· 383 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud· 450L· AR 2.3 · 0.5 AR pts
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Bookroo's summary

In the late 1800s, John Henry drives steel for a railroad tunnel in West Virginia. When a steam drill arrives, he races the machine to show that people are better. A short illustrated retelling for early readers, with a map, a glossary and a page on the legend.

From the publisher

Who is better, man or machine? Early fluent readers join John Henry in the late 1800s as he builds a railroad tunnel in West Virginia. Read along as he races a steam drill to prove humans are better than machines and cements his status as a folk hero. Vibrant illustrations and carefully leveled text will engage young readers in a supportive and educational reading experience. Children can learn more about John Henry using Fact Surfer, our safe online search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. This book also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a glossary, an index, a table of contents, a snapshot of John Henry's folk hero status, and a map showing where his legendary battle is said to have taken place. Grasshopper Books offers simple, fun narrative fiction for emerging readers. John Henry is part of Jump!'s Folk Legends series.

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
24
Words
383
Reading age
7–11
Audience
Juvenile Reader
Lexile
450L
AR book level
2.3
AR points
0.5
AR quiz
559669
The illustrator

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The series

The Folk Legends series

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
F&P level
~M
AR interest level
LG
Publication
Published
August 1, 2026
Edition
Language
English
Type
Picture Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9798896624585

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