Teaching social studies in the elementary and middle school curriculum is enhanced by incorporating quality children's and adolescent literature and strategies that bring the human element into play. American tall tales are a genre unique to the history of our nation and provide a glimpse into the way early settlers of the west envisioned heroism and adventure. Often textbooks written to teach social studies concepts are written in an expository style replete with facts and numbers for student to decipher and memorize. By expanding the study of the west to include tall tales teachers can ignite the flame of curiosity and exploration in the minds of their students.