Books like Big Sixteen by Mary Calhoun
Big Sixteen tells a whimsical folk tale for young readers. Big Sixteen, celebrated for his extraordinary size and strength, finds himself in a playful dilemma when The Old Man entrusts him with the task of fetching the devil. The story blends humor, folklore, and the spirit of adventure, highlighting the charm of mythic characters and the joy of storytelling.
First publish date: 1983
Genre: Children's Fiction/Picture Books
Authors: Mary Calhoun
★
★
★
★
★
5.0 (1 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for Big Sixteen by Mary Calhoun are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to Big Sixteen (16 similar books)
When eccentric millionaire Samuel W. Westing dies, sixteen heirs race through riddles, blizzards, burglaries and bombs to solve his will and claim a mysterious $10 million inheritance.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
The Penderwicks follows four sisters, their two rabbit companions, and a curious new boy as they navigate adventures and family bonds during a summer vacation in Massachusetts.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Ten‑year‑olds Petra and Calder tackle a mysterious art heist when a Vermeer vanishes, using their unique skills to solve a cross‑continental scandal.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When Kyle learns the famed game designer will host an exclusive lock‑in at his newly built library, he must outsmart puzzles, dice rolls and card draws to escape the mystery‑packed halls.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Virginia Hamilton gathers a lively mix of folktales, animal stories, fairy tales, and true "herstories," offering readers a vibrant exploration of African‑American folklore and the lives of remarkable women.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Eleven‑year‑old Mo LoBeau, washed ashore as a baby in Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, teams up with her friend Dale to solve a murder that may implicate the amnesiac colonel who runs a local café.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Virginia Hamilton retells 24 authentic African‑American folk tales—from animal stories to supernatural adventures and slave‑era memories—in vivid prose, illustrated by 40 expressive paintings.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A young girl, unhappy at home, discovers kindness and wealth from a mermaid named Mama Jo.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A spirited retelling of the African-American folk hero John Henry, a legendary railroad worker famed for his towering strength and indomitable spirit, now brought to life for young readers.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In this folk‑tale retelling, Brer Fox creates a tar‑baby trick to catch Brer Rabbit; when the clever rabbit shakes its hand, he finds himself stuck. Suitable for young readers, the story highlights classic characters and themes from African‑American folklore.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Rhymed retellings of classic Brer Rabbit folk tales, including "Tar‑Baby," "Minnow‑Grass," and "Hello House," collected by J.C. Harris.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When cousin Salim vanishes from the London Eye, siblings Ted and Kat team up to unravel the mystery, chasing clues across London while Ted’s unique mind offers the unexpected key to solving the disappearance.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
"The Devil has fascinated Christians since the time of the New Testament, and inspired many haunting works of art. This Very Short Introduction looks at the Devil in the history of ideas and in the lives of real people. Darren Oldridge shows us that the Devil is an important figure in western history--a richly complex and contradictory one. Oldridge focuses on three main themes: the idea of the Devil being integral to western thought from the early Middle Ages to the beginnings of modernity; the belief that the Devil represents the mirror image of goodness; and the multiplicity and instability of ideas about the Devil. Oldridge concludes by exploring "demonological" ways of thinking in our own time, including allegations of "satanic ritual abuse.""--
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
John Henry, the hammer‑wielding railroad worker, could out‑hammer any machine, but a new invention threatens the livelihoods of his fellow laborers. Will human skill triumph over technology?
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When Old Sam hires a new worker at his sawmill, the hired hand not only helps with the job but also teaches the lazy son a valuable lesson about treating people well.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Some Other Similar Books
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. KonigsburgSecrets of the Clock: A Hidden Library Adventure by Jonathan Stroud
The Case of the Missing Monkey by Megan McDonald
Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!