Rootabaga Stories of Carl Sandburg

From: Roy Trumbull
Length: 19:04

In 1922 the poet Carl Sandburg wrote a children's book about an imaginary place called The Rootabaga Country. It was very popular. Its stories ranged from inspired nonsense to scenes that fill the imagination and tug at the heart. There are 25 stories available. They can be heard at storyspieler.net and made available upon request via PRX. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Rootabaga Stories of Carl Sandburg
From: Roy Trumbull

Balloon_pickers_small One thing I found impressive was that Sandburg was very creative in his use of repetition. He uses it like a refrain and keeps the reader in the picture. It's especially important in books for children but we see very little of it today.

The two stories I've selected exhibit the range of the stories in the book.

More from Roy Trumbull

Memorial Day in Poetry and Stories Narrated by Roy Trumbull (27:24)
From: Roy Trumbull

A program of poems by Carl Sandburg on the mortality of things, civilizations, and men. A Native American story, and the tale of the last buffalos

And So Today by Carl Sandburg (09:57)
From: Roy Trumbull

This poem was written on the occasion of the interment of the Unknown Soldier of World War I. It tells of the occasion, the real people who observed it, and the hypocrisy of ...

The Great Grizzly Bear (09:34)
From: Roy Trumbull

The Indians pay the grizzly great respect. He is part of the master story of the Modoc and Shasta Indians. He is considered a paternal kin

Bill Cross and His Bear (09:53)
From: Roy Trumbull

A former sailor settles in Oregon. He is adverse to work of any sort. He's a self proclaimed expert. He fails to take seriously warnings about the feral Spanish cattle. ...

Treeing A Bear (08:40)
From: Roy Trumbull

Three youths armed with lassos and a single shot rifle go bear hunting.

A Fat Little Editor (08:08)
From: Roy Trumbull

Joaquin Miller and other writers have a camp on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. To that camp comes a tenderfoot newspaper editor. He catches some trout for his dinner and is ...

In Swimming With A Bear (12:15)
From: Roy Trumbull

A youth left to his own devices goes out on a log over the Sacramento River. Then he senses he's not alone. A bear has gotten on the same log and is coming toward him.

My First Grizzly by Joaquin Miller (08:03)
From: Roy Trumbull

A youth waits as fires are set to drive game out of a canyon. He wants a Grizzly. He gets his wish but after he fires his muzzle loaded rifle the bear is still very much alive.

Music Loving Bears (07:27)
From: Roy Trumbull

Two men and a boy were taking a load of wheat to a mill and while they stopped to rest for the night one of them played the fiddle. On the other side of the river they were ...

A Bear On Fire by Joaquin Miller (15:22)
From: Roy Trumbull

The author is acting as a guide for two British artists when a wildfire breaks out forcing them and the forest animals into a canyon with a stream.

Piece Description

One thing I found impressive was that Sandburg was very creative in his use of repetition. He uses it like a refrain and keeps the reader in the picture. It's especially important in books for children but we see very little of it today.

The two stories I've selected exhibit the range of the stories in the book.