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The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 144 ratings · 8 reviews

A plump little meadow mouse, always an inviting target for hungry hunters in the Green Meadow, spends much of his time avoiding the clutches of Hooty the Owl, Reddy Fox and Old Granny Fox, Mr. Blacksnake, and other pesky predators as he explores the Old Briar-patch and Farmer Brown's orchard.

Paperback, 96 pages

Published March 24th 1993 by Dover Publications (first published 1915)

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Jan 31, 2011 Jonathan Marshall rated it 3 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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Sep 15, 2010 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this to the kids this summer. All of the books by Burgess are wonderful. Filled with moral lessons, wonderful songs and poetry. They are so fun to read aloud. My children loved this one because there were at least 5 different characters involved in the same conversations. I change my voice for each characters and they just love that.

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Mar 02, 2013 Deanna Reinoso rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love all the Thornton Burgess books from my childhood. They are free on Kindle and our girls love them!

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Feb 03, 2013 Patsy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellant lessons for both adults and children to contemplate and learn from.

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Mar 30, 2013 Wendalynn Donnan rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the first "chapter books" I read as a child.

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May 15, 2012 Dana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-aloud

Exciting story with charming morals built in

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Jun 30, 2009 Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

I would give this book _10_ stars!

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Jun 09, 2009 Sashae rated it 3 of 5 stars

it was ok. a little kid would really enjoy

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May 21, 2013 M. Rivera added it

Shelves: owned-but-not-yet-read, ebooks

May 16, 2013 Colleen marked it as to-read

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Shelves: favorite-children-s-books

May 07, 2013 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children

May 05, 2013 Lauren Simison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 26, 2013 Charlotte Van houten rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Shelves: animal-stories, friends-when-young

Apr 08, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Mar 08, 2013 Jasmyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 03, 2013 Igraine marked it as bilderbuecher

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Feb 19, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

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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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