Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874-1965) was a conservationist and author of children's stories. He loved the beauty of nature and its living creatures so much that he wrote about them for 50 years. By the time he retired, he had written more than 170 books and

Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874-1965) was a conservationist and author of children's stories. He loved the beauty of nature and its living creatures so much that he wrote about them for 50 years. By the time he retired, he had written more than 170 books and

Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874-1965) was a conservationist and author of children's stories. He loved the beauty of nature and its living creatures so much that he wrote about them for 50 years. By the time he retired, he had written more than 170 books and

Peter Rabbit of the Brier-patch is full of mischief today -- and hopes to pull a little prank on Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox. But maybe you know the rhyme:

"When Jimmy Skunk is angry
Then everyone watch out!
It's better far at such a time
To be nowhere about!

In this delightful tale of field and meadow, Peter Rabbit gets in more trouble than he bargains for -- with a horde of Yellow Jackets thrown in!

This spectacular story by Thornton Burgess offers a lively narrative and descriptions of the many animals Peter Rabbit encounters in each and every chapter. We join Peter Rabbit who is very curious about the other animals in his forest. Mother Goose agrees to teach him about the creatures and their nature, and takes him on a journey through the forest to find them. Gradually, the entire mammalian order is covered by the pair, as they enjoy their adventuring through the forested lands. Featuring many creatures of interest to children, this superb text is both a work of fiction and an educational introduction to animals and their qualities. Lively and filled with dialogue between the characters, this classic text is rare for combining both teaching with a genuinely excellent story.

For over 100 years, the animal books and stories of beloved children's author Thornton W. Burgess have delighted millions of children and their parents. Burgess was a master at telling charming stories of loveable creatures that captivated little boys and girls. The stories are classical animal stories that you can read to your children over and over again. They're humorous and filled with moral, fun and adventure!

Granny Fox said, "Now, Reddy Fox, you run across the bridge and watch from the top of the little hill over there. Perhaps I can show you a trick that will teach you why I have made you learn to run across the bridge."

Reddy trotted across the long bridge and up to the top of the hill, as Granny had told him to. Pretty soon Reddy heard another sound. It was a long, low rumble. Then there was a distant whistle. It was a train.

Suddenly Granny Fox started across the bridge so fast that she looked like a little red streak. Bowser the Hound dog was close at her heels when she started and he was so eager to catch her that he didn't see either the bridge or the train. Oh, my, no When she had reached the other side, he wasn't halfway across, and right behind him, whistling for him to get out of the way, was the train.

The hound gave one frightened yelp, and then he leaped down, down into the swift water below.

"Now you know why I wanted you to learn to cross a bridge; it's a very nice way of getting rid of dogs," said Granny Fox, as she climbed up beside Reddy.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - The cordial reception given the Burgess Bird Book for Children, together with numerous letters to the author asking for information on the habits and characteristics of many of the mammals of America, led to the preparation of this volume. It is offered merely as an introduction to the four-footed friends, little and big, which form so important a part of the wild life of the United States and Canada. There has been no attempt to describe or classify sub-species. That is for the scientist and student with specific interests. The purpose of this book is to acquaint the reader with the larger groups - orders, families, and divisions of the latter, so that typical representatives may be recognized and their habits understood. Instead of the word mammal, the word animal has been used throughout as having a better defined meaning to the average child. A conscientious effort to avoid technical terms and descriptions has been made that there may be nothing to confuse the young mind. Clarity and simplicity have been the objects kept constantly in view.

Instead of flying straight to that old nest, he first flew over the tree so that he could look down into it.

Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his eyes. It was quite large and white, and it looked -- it looked very much indeed like an egg! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and blinked?

You know Blacky has a weakness for eggs. The more he thought about it, the hungrier he grew. . . !

Old Mother West Wind sweeps across the woods and into the meadow, and opens her bag full of the Merry Little Breezes -- who quickly spin and fly around all their animal friends, including Peter Rabbit, Jimmy Skunk, Bobby Coon and Johnny Chuck.

Then one shakes Mr. Bob White.

"Wake up " says the willful little Breeze. "Reddy Fox and Hooty the Owl are coming to the Brown Pasture to gobble up you and Mrs. Bob White and all the little Bob Whites "

Such tales as "Why Grandfather Frog Has No Tail" and "Spotty the Turtle Wins a Race" fill "Old Mother West Wind, " the 1910 children's classic that has made Thornton Burgess a favorite among all who are young at heart.

""Bang! Bang! Bang! Not a feather spare!""

So go the guns ripping the air after poor Mrs. Quack! And now Mr. Quack has gone missing along the Big River -- and Peter Rabbit, try as he might, can think of no way to help. Then Sammy the Bluejay and Blacky the Crow arrive!

The author of "Old Mother West Wind" spins another tale of wonderful nature-adventure in "The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack."

At the edge of the old briar-patch sits Peter Rabbit -- staring into the sky, his head tipped so far back it makes his neck ache!

Up in the sky, a black speck sails across the snowy white face of a cloud. How could that little speck be alive, way up there? But Peter knows it is -- and he knows "who" it is: King Eagle, who, by and by, disappears over the Great Mountain. Peter rubs the back of his aching neck. Then he gives a little sigh.

"I wonder what it's like, to fly like that," he says . . . not knowing just how much he is soon to learn about his friends in the green forest and meadow -- and the adventures he will have, while learning!

Thornton W. Burgess (1874-1965) expressed his love of the outdoors in these delightful "How" tales about the ways of animals in the wild.

Happy Jack Squirrel sat on the tip of one of the highest branches of a big hickory tree. Happy Jack was up very early that morning. In fact, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was still in his bed behind the Purple Hills when Happy Jack hopped briskly out of bed. He washed himself thoroughly and was ready for business by the time Mr. Sun began his climb up in the blue, blue sky. You see, Happy Jack had found that big hickory tree just loaded with nuts all ripe and ready to gather. He was quite sure that no one else had found that special tree, and he wanted to get all the nuts before any one else found out about them. So he was all ready and off he raced to the big tree just as soon as it was light enough to see.

Reddy Fox lived with Granny Fox. You see, Reddy was one of a large family, so large that Mother Fox had hard work to feed so many hungry little mouths and so she had let Reddy go to live with old Granny Fox. Granny Fox was the wisest, slyest, smartest fox in all the country round, and now that Reddy had grown so big, she thought it about time that he began to learn the things that every fox should know. So every day she took him hunting with her and taught him all the things that she had learned about hunting: about how to steal Farmer Brown's chickens without awakening Bowser the Hound, and all about the thousand and one ways of fooling a dog which she had learned. This morning Granny Fox had taken Reddy across the Green Meadows, up through the Green Forest, and over to the railroad track. Reddy had never been there before and he didn't know just what to make of it. Granny trotted ahead until they came to a long bridge. Then she stopped.

Children will love hearing, and reading, about Chatterer the Red Squirrel and his adventures in the Green Meadows and Green Forest as he desperately uses Redtail the Hawk, one of his other deadliest foes, to escape being dinner for Shadow the Weasel. Then he decides to move to the Green Meadows to escape Shadow, and discovers Farmer Brown's corn-crib is a wonderful place for corn dinners But then Farmer Brown's boy catches him Will he escape or will he become Black Pussy's next meal? * * * * Read about the adventures of Sammy Jay as he matches wits with Chatterer the Red Squirrel as Chatterer frightens Sammy and Sammy, in turn, traps Chatterer into fetching him corn from Farmer Brown's corncrib. Peter Rabbit, Reddy Fox, Black Pussy, Roughleg the Hawk, and even Farmer Brown's boy all get involved with the different tricks Sammy and Chatterer play on each other. * * * * Learn what happens when Buster Bear takes Little Joe Otter's breakfast and how Little Joe gets even, and then accidentally gives Buster the best breakfast he's every had Then the Little People of the forest are thrilled to hear that Farmer Brown's boy is scared of Buster Bear, but Blacky the Crow is suspicious and comes up with a plan to see if that is really true, and everyone is surprised at the result. And then Buster Bear gets into Farmer Brown's boy's berry bucket and everything goes wrong * * * * Old Mr. Toad is acting strangely, and his behavior puzzles his friends in the Green Meadow. He was in a hurry, and Old Mr. Toad never hurries unless he is in danger. But this time he says he has a very important engagement. See what Jimmy Skunk, Peter Cottontail, Billy Possum, and some of the other animals discover as they secretly follow him. And then Peter Cottontail meets Mr. Toad's children, is amazed at his unusual tongue, and accidentally offends Mr. Toad But that's not all, Mr. Toad gets a scare, and then makes friends with Buster Bear, but at the expense of the rest of his friends. How does all this turn out? * * * * The four books in "Burgess' Bedtime Story-Books, Volume 3" are a continuation of Thornton W. Burgess's long running - and much beloved - series of children's nature books about the Green Meadow, the Green Forest, and the Smiling Pool. Young readers, and listeners, travel to this timeless world and learn gentle lessons about nature, the environment, and the "lesser folk of fur and feathers." Any imaginative child will be captivated by this book. The chapters are short, with simple language, and is printed in easy-to-read 14-point type. Read aloud to pre-readers, or read by children themselves, this book will surely be a family favorite in no time. * * * * "Burgess' Bedtime Story-Books, Volume 3" includes: "The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel," "The Adventures of Sammy Jay," "The Adventures of Buster Bear," and "The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad." This volume includes all the stories and the original twenty-four illustrations from the first editions published in 1915, 1915, 1916, and 1916, respectively. * * * * Check out the other Thornton Burgess books published by Flying Chipmunk Publishing at www.FlyingChipmunkPublishing.com (and download the FREE 20 page "Mother West Wind/Peter Rabbit Coloring Book" available there ), and you can Friend us on FB to get information on our latest releases.

Poor Bobby Coon! He is having the worst dream ever! There 's this terrible thumping noise, and his whole house is shaking. But wait, he isn t dreaming! What 's happening? How does he end up living in Farmer Brown 's Barn all winter? And what happens to Bobby

The four books in "Burgess' Bedtime Story-Books, Volume 1" are a continuation of Thornton W. Burgess's long running - and much beloved - series of children's nature books about the Green Meadow, the Green Forest, and the Smiling Pool. Young readers, and listeners, travel to this timeless world and learn gentle lessons about nature, the environment, and the "lesser folk of fur and feathers." * * * * Children will love hearing, and reading, about what happens when Reddy Fox gets bold and then careless, why Granny Fox has to take care of him and how the other little forest people help him out, and why Farmer Brown's boy hunts Reddy Fox. Then they read about Johnny Chuck and his adventures when he gives away his home and travels around looking for a new home, why he fights with the first chuck he meets but not the second, where he decides to build his new house, and what happens when Sammy Jay discovers his new house and his new secret Then Peter Rabbit tries to change his name, Reddy Fox invites him to breakfast, Shadow the Weasel invades the Briar-patch, and then first Johnny Chuck, then Old Grandfather Frog, and then even Ol' Mistah Buzzard, say they will see Peter in the Spring, but it is not yet winter Finally, Unc' Billy Possum gets caught by Farmer Brown's boy, he gets away, but then gets trapped in the hen-house, he escapes the hen-house only to get trapped in a tree, and then Happy Jack the Squirrel helps him get home safely. * * * * Any imaginative child will be captivated by this book. The chapters are short, with simple language, and is printed in easy-to-read 14-point type. Read aloud to pre-readers, or read by children themselves, this book will surely be a family favorite in no time. * * * * "Burgess' Bedtime Story-Books, Volume 1" includes: The Adventures of Reddy Fox," "The Adventures of Johnny Chuck," "The Adventures of Peter Cottontail," and "The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum." This volume includes all the stories and the original twenty-four illustrations from the first editions published in 1913, 1913, 1914, and 1914, respectively. * * * * Check out the other Thornton Burgess books published by Flying Chipmunk Publishing at www.FlyingChipmunkPublishing.com (and download the FREE 20 page "Mother West Wind/Peter Rabbit Coloring Book" available there ), and you can Friend us on FB to get information on our latest releases.

Grandfather Frog is very old and very wise, and he knows all about the days when the world was young. When he is feeling just right, he dearly loves to tell about those long-ago days.

"Chug-a-rum " said Grandfather Frog. And then he told why Peter Rabbit -- and all rabbits -- cannot bend their wrists. He told a thousand stories, in fact, because that's what Grandfather Frog was meant to do. Stories of Rabbits, Chipmunks, Possums, Foxes -- Grandfather Frog knows the important stuff about everybody who lives around the meadow.