Johnny Tunes and the Gandy Dancers

An inspiring tale about a young boy named Johnny Tunes who uses his musical talent to defy the limitations set by others because of his disability.

When the Western Railroad company comes to town looking for gandy dancers--strong workers who lay down railroad tracks--Johnny Tunes is excited about the prospect and shows up eager to do the work. However, he's quickly told by the foreman that he doesn't belong and should go back home. The foreman can't see past the effects of polio where Johnny was left with one leg shorter than the other.

Undeterred, Johnny comes up with a clever plan to use his natural musical talent to help the gandy dancers rebuild the tracks. With Johnny at the helm, the men move the rails with ease and in unison for the first time.

Pamela M. Tuck is an award-winning author of children's books, including As Fast As Words Could Fly. A native of Greenville, North Carolina, Pamela's writing is deeply rooted in her upbringing surrounded by Southern storytellers. Many of her family's experiences are woven into her stories. Pamela lives in southeastern Pennsylvania and enjoys spending time with her large family, who still enjoy listening to a good story. Find her at pamelamtuck.com.

Joel S. Tuck was the late husband of Pamela M. Tuck and a key influence in the beginning of her writing career. As her writing partner, he encouraged Pamela to write her own stories inspired by the storytelling tradition she learned from her family. During their collaboration, Joel suggested ideas for character and plot development, contributing to the books Pamela would later publish. Joel passed away in 2014.

Jerry Jordan is a children's book illustrator and fine artist working in the style of contemporary realism. He was inspired to become a painter by the unsung artists of the Harlem Renaissance, and studied at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin. See more of his work on Instagram @purplehood2 or artistjerryjordan.com.