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The Adventures of Bob White

by Thornton W. Burgess, Harrison Cady (Illustrator)

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 36 ratings · 3 reviews

Bob White is a busy, busy bird with many friends, but when he decides to build a new home why does he decide to keep it a secret? And why did Mrs. Bob White pick such a dangerous place for their new home? Later, why does Peter have to watch his step when Mrs. Bob White comes to visit, and why does Farmer Brown’s boy decide that he really loves the Bob Whites? And then a hu...more Bob White is a busy, busy bird with many friends, but when he decides to build a new home why does he decide to keep it a secret? And why did Mrs. Bob White pick such a dangerous place for their new home? Later, why does Peter have to watch his step when Mrs. Bob White comes to visit, and why does Farmer Brown’s boy decide that he really loves the Bob Whites? And then a hunter shows up with a terrible gun. What happens when he shoots and how does Farmer Brown’s boy save the Whites from becoming the hunter’s dinner?
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• * Young readers travel to the timeless world of the Green Forest and Smiling Pool. Gentle lessons about nature, the environment, and the “lesser folk of fur and feathers” for today’s young readers and listeners.
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• * Originally published in 1919, “The Adventures of Bob White” is part of the rich heritage of children’s nature books left to us by Thornton W. Burgess in his long running — and much beloved — series of children’s nature books about the Green Meadow and the Green Forest..
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• * This book is the nineteenth in Thornton Burgess’s “Bed-Time Storybook” series. Any imaginative child will be captivated by this book. The chapters are short, with simple language that children will identify with, 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. This edition includes the original four Harrison Cady illustrations. “The Adventures of Bob White” is included with “The Adventures of Bobby Coon,” “The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk,” and “The Adventures of Ol’ Mistah Buzzard” in Flying Chipmunk Publishing’s “Burgess’ Bed-Time Storybooks, Volume 5” (ISBN 978-1-60459-979-4)
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• * 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!)
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Hardcover, 186 pages

Published May 28th 1988 by Amereon Limited (first published January 1900)

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Jan 31, 2011 Jonathan Marshall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kid-friendly

The Burgess Books

This is a phrase that brings a smile to my face as often as I hear it. As a young child, I would lose myself for hours in the simple world of the wood and pond inhabited by Little Joe Otter, Buster Bear, Grandfather Frog, and terrorized by Farmer Brown's Boy. I can remember the very shelf, even the exact spot in the little library in Felton, CA where these books were kept. I would return practically every week with a new armload to last me until our next trip to the library. Of...more The Burgess Books

This is a phrase that brings a smile to my face as often as I hear it. As a young child, I would lose myself for hours in the simple world of the wood and pond inhabited by Little Joe Otter, Buster Bear, Grandfather Frog, and terrorized by Farmer Brown's Boy. I can remember the very shelf, even the exact spot in the little library in Felton, CA where these books were kept. I would return practically every week with a new armload to last me until our next trip to the library. Often I would carry out stories that I read several times before, just so I could once again escape into this imaginary world of furry mischief.

I remember these books well in concept, though the specifics of most of the stories elude me. It was easily fifteen years ago when I began reading them and has been over a decade since I last picked up one of Burguess' stories to read it. That being said, this review is being written as a look back.

These stories are very simple and very fun. Of course, they are children's literature, so that's to be expected, but these stories strike me as especially so. Even still, I can remember some fascinating things I gleaned between the their covers.

For one thing, Burgess did a fantastic job of presenting the ideas of persepective and motivation in simplistic terms. For example, "The Adventures of Danny Field Mouse" would cast Old Man Coyote as a vicious, mean creature wishing to prey on Danny and his friends and family. Yet, pick up instead "The Adventures of Old Man Coyote" and you'll see that when the story is told with him as the protagonist, those pesky field mice are annoying and useful for little more than a snack. After reading both books, you're no more inclined to think of Old Man Coyote as a villian than you are to think of Danny Field Mouse as a pest that should be exterminated. (Note: This is a generic example. I do not recall if Old Man Coyote plays a role in Danny Field Mouse's story or the other way around, but this concept was presented several times. It made an impression on me.)

The only characters consistantly presented as antagonists were Farmer Brown and his boy. This would be one of the only things that I chalk up as odd, or maybe just a little "off" in these books. Humans and their influence on nature are presented as a negative influence on nature and animals - always. It's interesting to note though that while humans are seen as a negative, humanity is lauded and held up as virtuous. All of the animals take on not only human personalities but characteristics, traits, and mannerisms. From a frog with a monocle and an otter with a handkerchief tied to a stick, to a busy-body Jay and a reclusive owl who desires only to be left alone, humanity and it's traits keep cropping up.

Which would be another thing of value I feel that I saw in the Burgess books. These stories are full of social interaction and personality conflicts, even if they are charicatured more often than not. We see over and over again a working out of peace, if not harmony, between conflicting personalities. It may not always be easy to point out a scripture to reinforce the lesson implied, but social harmony is presented and more often than not, resolution is through reconciliation, forgiveness, or a similar method that is not only laudable, but distinctly Christian in action if not motivation.

All in all, the world created by Thornton W. Burgess is imaginative, innocent, fun, and educational. My reccomendation? Grab a handful from your local library, gather a group of kids as an excuse, and lose yourselves in childhood imaginations as you read aloud the stories that have captivated several generations of young readers with the antics of our furry, albiet elusively human, friends.

(Disclaimers: As I said, it has been over a decade since I actually read one of Burgess' books. As such, there may be a specific example that's a little off in this review or something that I would have noticed as an adult that my childhood memories are missing. Also, all of these books say I read them in 1998. While I'm certain I read several of them that year, I'm sure I read some before and after that date as well.)(less)

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Dec 09, 2009 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: eng-420

Pre-1920

This was a very quick and charming tale. It was different from anything else I read for class in that the main characters were animals--a family of birds to be exact. It is a simple story of their efforts to build a home and survive, and their interactions with other dangerous animals and humans. The famous Peter Rabbit actually makes a guest appearance in the story. :)The Bob White family (the birds) learn wisdom about survival and trust. Eventually they meet a young farm boy and they h...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Sarah May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens

Check out my review at http://www.littlebooksontheprairie.wo...!

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May 17, 2013 Zach Pauley added it

Apr 20, 2013 Iroulito91 marked it as to-read

Apr 20, 2013 Codkelpme rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 06, 2013 Moira added it

Shelves: jack

Mar 31, 2013 Ariel C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mar 08, 2013 Jasmyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 03, 2013 Igraine marked it as bilderbuecher

Feb 18, 2013 Timalee Guetterman marked it as to-read

Feb 08, 2013 Aknez marked it as childrens-literature

Jan 20, 2013 Leora rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jan 15, 2013 Harry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jan 08, 2013 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood, animals

Dec 29, 2012 Jeanne Grimes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dec 06, 2012 Chaplain2 marked it as to-read

Shelves: children, nature, classics

Nov 10, 2012 Tara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Oct 30, 2012 Yinzadi marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: children-general

Oct 21, 2012 the boys rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-by-mom

Oct 04, 2012 Cindy Coletti marked it as to-read

Shelves: own

Sep 06, 2012 Qt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals

Sep 02, 2012 Fiona rated it 3 of 5 stars

Aug 19, 2012 Dreama rated it 5 of 5 stars

Aug 18, 2012 Jack Herbold rated it 5 of 5 stars

Aug 03, 2012 Pamela added it

Shelves: childrens, elementary-reads

Aug 03, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jul 28, 2012 Anton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sep 15, 2012 Chris added it

Shelves: 2012

Mar 09, 2012 Jayme marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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About Thornton W. Burgess

Thornton W. Burgess (1874-1965), American author, naturalist and conservationist, wrote popular children's stories including the Old Mother West Wind (1910) series. He would go on to write more than 100 books and thousands of short-stories during his lifetime.

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