Building on previous titles about figures from American folklore, from Brer Rabbit to Pecos Bill, these additions to the series describe people from American history whose stories have taken on legendary status. In the time-honored fashion of biographies, the authors follow their subjects from childhood, highlighting episodes contributing to their fame, while a concluding page explains how much of the story might be true. The design is attractive and appropriate. Johnny Appleseed describes John Chapman's quirky lifestyle and the legacy of his apple orchards. Both texts and back matter would have benefited from more careful editing, and the straightforward narration and unattributed quotations throughout might lead a child to believing that they are reading pure nonfiction. As indicated by the Dewey numbers, these titles will be most effective as part of folklore collections.