Johnny hunts for the biggest bear in the forest, but comes home with a little bear, that grows and grows and grows.

Young Daniel and his family live in a log cabin high on a Tennessee mountain. Whenever Daniel has time, he carves things out of wood. First he makes a beautiful dish for his mother. Then he tries a cup and a spoon. But Daniel wants to create realistic animals just like the famous woodcarver who lives in the valley. All winter long after supper, Daniel sits in front of the warm fireplace with his knife and a large piece of wood. He is working on a duck to sell at the spring fair in the valley.

Based on the famous African American fold ballad John Henry, this story tells of the legendary contest to the death between a spirited young man with a hammer and a steam drill to build a tunnel through the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.

To keep from being eaten, a resourceful inchworm measures a robin's tail, a flamingo's neck, a toucan's beak, a heron's legs, and a nightingale's song.

Lentil's harmonica playing saves the day when calamity threatens the homecoming celebration for the leading citizen of Alto, Ohio.