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The Adventures of Old Man Coyote

by Thornton W. Burgess

3.93 · rating details · 59 ratings · 4 reviews

The arrival of Old Man Coyote causes a lot of commotion among the denizens of the Green Forest. Master storyteller blends a good story with gentle lessons about nature and virtuous conduct. 6 new illustrations.

Paperback, 96 pages

Published June 4th 1997 by Dover Publications (first published 1916)

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Jan 31, 2011

Jonathan Marshall rated it

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...moreThe 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)

· see review

Sep 28, 2009

Evelyn Saenz rated it

Shelves: animals, beginning-chapter-books, wildlife, woodlands

This is the first book by Thornton Burgess that we read. I discovered it in my dad's bedroom where he kept his treasures from his childhood. All of my children have since loved it.

· see review

Jun 30, 2009

Thomas rated it

This one is even better than Danny Meadow Mouse! I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

· see review

Sep 04, 2011

Elaine rated it

I had a grand time reading this one aloud to my siblings!

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Jan 30, 2012

John Scott rated it

Jan 22, 2012

Donna rated it

Jan 14, 2012

Judy Cherry rated it

Jan 05, 2012

Josh marked it as to-read

Dec 03, 2011

Megan rated it

Oct 13, 2011

M Murphy added it

Shelves: grade-1-week-6, grade-1-read-alouds

Sep 02, 2011

Jordan rated it

Aug 29, 2011

Jill marked it as to-read

Shelves: ch-fantasy, schoolroom-ya

Sep 06, 2011

Dawnya rated it

Shelves: homeschool

Aug 26, 2011

Debbie Klassen rated it

Aug 10, 2011

Sam added it

Shelves: children

Jul 22, 2011

Politicalprof08 added it

Jul 11, 2011

Renaldo Castile marked it as to-read

Jun 21, 2011

R. A. Danger marked it as to-read

Shelves: animal-fiction, animals-as-main-character, coyote-main-character

Jun 02, 2011

Graham added it

Apr 24, 2011

Laura rated it

Apr 21, 2011

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Apr 11, 2011

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Mar 16, 2011

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Mar 06, 2011

Jared rated it

Shelves: animals, for-kids, my-family-owns

Jan 20, 2011

Cassondra Schmidt rated it

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Dec 20, 2010

James marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Nov 28, 2010

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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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