Mystery
A note from Big John
Why You'll Want to Read Big Mabel
Some heroes wear capes. Some wear saddles. And some have four legs, long ears, and enough stubborn determination to move a mountain.
Big Mabel is more than a story about animals. It is a heartwarming adventure filled with friendship, courage, humor, and the timeless values that have connected generations for centuries.
Set in the hills and hollers of Appalachia, the story follows Mabel, a hardworking mule whose common sense often proves more valuable than anyone else's grand plans. Alongside her friends—Clarence the dramatic canary, Poncho the ever-optimistic pony, Shep the loyal German Shepherd, and a cast of unforgettable mountain characters—Mabel discovers that true strength comes not from size or power, but from loyalty, kindness, and doing what is right when things get difficult.
Young readers will love the exciting adventures, funny situations, and colorful personalities that fill every chapter. Whether facing challenges in the coal mines, helping neighbors in trouble, navigating mountain floods, or uncovering unexpected mysteries, Mabel and her friends show that ordinary individuals can accomplish extraordinary things when they work together.
Adults will find something special as well.
Beneath the humor and adventure lies a deeper story about community, perseverance, family, and the values that once defined small-town America. Parents and grandparents will recognize the lessons they grew up with—helping neighbors, keeping promises, respecting hard work, and finding joy in simple things. The animals may be the stars of the story, but the lessons are deeply human.
Big Mabel is the kind of book that grandparents enjoy reading aloud and children ask to hear again. It combines the charm of classic animal stories with the warmth of Appalachian storytelling, creating a world that feels both magical and familiar. Readers will laugh at Clarence's endless worries, cheer for Poncho's impossible dreams, admire Shep's courage, and fall in love with Mabel's steady wisdom. By the final page, these characters feel less like fictional animals and more like old friends.
If you enjoy stories that make you smile, remind you of the importance of friendship, and leave you feeling better about the world than when you started reading, then Big Mabel belongs on your bookshelf. Because sometimes the biggest hero in the story is the one who simply refuses to quit.
And nobody refuses to quit quite like Big Mabel.
About the Book
BIG MABEL isn't just a mule — she's a legend born in the depths of Kentucky coal country, where the air is thick with coal dust and stories echo through the mountains like ghost songs. In this sweeping Appalachian tale, Mabel leads a crew of unlikely heroes — Clarence the high-strung canary, Poncho the theatrical pony, and Shep the loyal shepherd dog — through the perilous underworld of mine shafts, mudslides, and moonlit ridgelines.
Filled with rich mountain folklore, dry mule wit, and the enduring spirit of Appalachia, this sweeping tale follows Mabel and her crew of unlikely heroes through mine shafts, mudslides, and moonlit ridgelines. Where legend meets loyalty, and heroes come with hooves.
Reader Reviews
FUNNY BUT SERIOUS, THERE'S A LOT TO LIKE IN BIG MABEL
"You may find it funny that in John Chaney's Big Mabel its main characters are not human but a group of anthropomorphic figures, led by a no-nonsense, insightful, and hard-working mule, named Big Mabel, who, when we first meet her, is laboring with friends in an Appalachian coal mine. Big Mabel, bright and capable, is obviously the leader of the group — one who handles the heavy lifting (literally and figuratively). There's Clarence, the canary, whose primary purpose is to warn the miners when conditions become dangerous, but not liking being tagged as one-dimensional has developed a musical repertoire ranging from opera to punk rock; Poncho, a theatrically-inclined, feisty pony who dances the Mambo and is driven by a desire to run in the Kentucky Derby; and Shep, a shepherd dog who offers his friends a modicum of stability. There is a lot in this short novel to grab your attention. I found it to be a delightful read and often found myself laughing out loud. But if you dig beneath the surface just a little, you will find life lessons emerging from these coming-of-age characters; and these lessons seemed to have more of an impact coming from animals than if the characters had been human. Read it, and see what you think."
— W Bruce Ayers, Verified Purchase · Amazon, February 2026"Big Mabel brought me straight back to my grandmother's porch in Harlan County. I laughed, I cried, and I thought about it for a week after I finished."
— Amazon Reader Review"John Chaney writes like he's sitting right next to you on the porch telling a story. Big Mabel is one of those books you'll press into a friend's hands."
— Amazon Reader Review