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We are reunited with Smiley, Bartleby and three young Bone scouts by the names of Ringo, Bingo and Todd. After setting up campfire, Smiley recites tales of Johnson Bone, the founder of Boneville. Smiley describes Johnson Bone as a "fighter" and an "adventurer", defeating Old Man Winter himself, gearing up for an all-you-can-eat contest, and getting into wild and crazy adventures out in the wilderness. Todd seems less than impressed with Smiley's tales, and before going to bed sneaks into Smiley's tent to pass out with Smiley's huge story-telling sombrero on his head. What ensues is a crazy and wild adventure with Big Johnson's mission to save the wildlife critters from the terrible clutches of the Rat Queen and her son.

There is definitely no shortage of adorable woodland creatures Jeff Smith first introduced us to in the Bone series, all attempting to get Johnson Bone to defeat the Rat Queen and her son, some having more faith in Johnson than the others. Jeff Smith and Tom Sniegoski do a fantastic job of creating big and playful personalities for all the animals, including a shy little turtle named Porter who is brave enough like all the rest of them to pop out of his shell to help defeat the menacing and evil Rat Creatures.

Jeff Smith keeps up all the action and adventure that his original Bone series includes, although with Tall Tales I find some of the situations to be a little more goofy and silly compared to adventures than Fone Bone and the gang find themselves in. But then again this is in the perspective of the little Bone scout Todd, and it does give the readers the sense of how wildly imaginative and daring a little child (Bone)'s mind can be.

Little Squirrel Gives It: 7/10