Download or read book John Henry: An American Legend written by Ezra Jack Keats and published by Dragonfly Books. This book was released on 1987-05-12 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Caldecott Medalist Ezra Jack Keats’s vibrant retelling of the popular African American folk ballad. Have you heard the tale? John Henry was born with a hammer in his hand. He was taller and stronger than anyone around. When men started talking about laying railroad tracks across the prairies and deserts, and right through the mountains, John Henry knew he and his hammer had to be a part of it. And drive those spikes he did! Then came the day when a challenge was announced: Who could dig a tunnel through a mountain faster—John Henry and his hammer? Or a steam drill?