John Henry by Julius Lester (Folk Tale)

John Henry was story about a man who was fast and strong in everything he did. He could fun faster than you could say go and break through stones no normal man could break. When he was old enough he left home with two twenty pound sledgehammers that had four foot handles that his granddaddy once owned. He was headed toward Virginia so he could find work building the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad through West Virginia. On his way there he ran into men who needed help. John Henry, being the hard working man he was, helped the men build a tunnel through the mountain. They didn't believe he could do it with just his sledge hammers so John made a bet that who ever made it to the middle of the tunnel wins. John Henry was so fast that he met the steam drill on the other side and when he did, he didn't realize how much it took a toll on his body, for he didn't live long after to celebrate his victory. 

I would use this book to help students pay attention to what's being read by asking them questions, summarizing the story, stating the feelings behind the story, make connections, and ask them what questions came to mind when reading the story.