THE NARROW ESCAPES OF DAVY CROCKETT

From a Bear, a Boa Constrictor. . .Trees, Tornadoes, a Sinking Ship, and Niagara Falls"" declares the subtitle here, making it clear that this is the tall-tale, not the historical, Davy. And, in the best tall-tale tradition, Davy's escapes are funny both in outline and in their pungent language: when Davy's friend Mortal Brown suggests letting an intruding wildcat eat Davy's wife while the two of them scoot to safety, Davy is so outraged that he pounces on Mortal, incidentally tossing the wildcat out the window. Like Dewey's other tall tales (e.g., Pecos Bill, 1982): a high interest, easily read book with a wealth of attractive, appropriately comic illustrations.