John Henry: read-along
John Henry as a read-along for the projector: 15 pages, 1086 words, level 9, grade 4.
Page 1 of 15
The night John Henry was born, the hills rang like a bell. He was the biggest baby anyone had ever seen, with a voice like thunder, and he ate four breakfasts and then asked for a fifth. Before he could walk, he picked up a small hammer and grinned. "That boy was made for iron," said his father. By the time he was grown, John Henry stood taller than any doorway, so he had learned to duck politely.
Keys: ← → or Page Up and Page Down turn the page, Space starts and pauses the voice, Home and End jump, F fills the screen. Tapping the right side of a page goes on; the left side goes back.
How to use it
- Press Full screen (F) to put the book on the projector.
- Press Read to me (Space), or read it yourself and turn pages with the arrow keys or a tap. Pick the Pace that suits the class.
- After the last page, three questions come up to talk about.
About this book
- Level 9, Grade 4
- 15 pages, 1086 words, about 8 minutes aloud
- A classic tale, gentle
Related
About John Henry
John Henry is the strongest steel driver on the railroad, and he challenges a squeaky-clean salesman and his shiny steam drill to a race through the mountain. With the crowd watching and the rock creaking overhead, he swings for every man's job.
Words to preview
- echoed (EK-ohd)
- rang back
- tunnel (TUN-ul)
- hole through mountain
- salesman (SAYLZ-mun)
- seller
- crowded (KROW-did)
- packed close
- measured (MEZH-urd)
- checked size
Questions that fit any book
- What happened at the beginning, in the middle and at the end?
- Which page was your favorite? Why?
- How did the main character feel at the end? What tells you?
Questions
How long does John Henry take to read aloud?
It has 15 pages and 1086 words, so about 8 minutes at the Steady pace and a little less at Quick. If you stop to talk on the way, plan for more.
What reading level is John Henry?
Level 9, Grade 4. The library numbers its levels from 0 to 18 and puts the level of a book on its cover; level 9 sits at grade 4. A level is a guide for choosing, so look at the pages yourself.
Whose voice is it?
Your browser's own. Read to me uses a speaking voice already on the computer, so it sounds like that computer and works without a sign-in. Voices differ: some light each word as it is spoken, and some do not, in which case the highlight follows a steady pace instead. Some browsers use an online voice; if yours does, the browser, not us, sends the words of the page to its speech service. If no voice is installed, turn the pages and read it aloud yourself.
Do students need an account?
No. Nothing is asked of anyone and nothing is sent to us. Project the page, or share the link and let students open it on their own screens.
Is this the original text?
No. It is a retelling in Peabody's own words at this reading level, so it may differ from the edition you know.
Nothing you do here is sent to us. The voice is your browser's own. No sign-in, no ads.