Sammy Jay GB

The Bedtime Story Books

by Thornton W. Burgess

Sammy Jay often does things he shouldn't do. In particular, he likes to steal things. Much of the time he just struts around trying to look like a fine gentleman in his blue coat and high cap. Burgess' heartwarming tale has thrilled generations of youngsters. 30 black-and-white illustrations.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Classics, Fantasy, Literature, Nature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Thornton W. (Waldo) 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.

Thornton Burgess loved the beauty of nature and its living creatures so much that he wrote about them for 50 years in books and his newspaper column, "Bedtime Stories". He was sometimes known as the Bedtime Story-Man. By the time he retired, he had written more than 170 books and 15,000 stories for the daily newspaper column.

Born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, Burgess was the son of Caroline F. Haywood and Thornton W. Burgess Sr., a direct descendant of Thomas Burgess, one of the first Sandwich settlers in 1637. Thornton W. Burgess, Sr., died the same year his son was born, and the young Thornton Burgess was brought up by his mother in Sandwich. They both lived in humble circumstances with relatives or paying rent. As a youth, he worked year round in order to earn money. Some of his jobs included tending cows, picking trailing arbutus or berries, shipping water lilies from local ponds, selling candy and trapping muskrats. William C. Chipman, one of his employers, lived on Discovery Hill Road, a wildlife habitat of woodland and wetland. This habitat became the setting of many stories in which Burgess refers to Smiling Pool and the Old Briar Patch.

Graduating from Sandwich High School in 1891, Burgess briefly attended a business college in Boston from 1892 to 1893, living in Somerville, Massachusetts, at that time. But he disliked studying business and wanted to write. He moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he took a job as an editorial assistant at the Phelps Publishing Company. His first stories were written under the pen name W. B. Thornton.

Burgess married Nina Osborne in 1905, but she died only a year later, leaving him to raise their son alone. It is said that he began writing bedtime stories to entertain his young son, Thornton III. Burgess remarried in 1911; his wife Fannie had two children by a previous marriage. The couple later bought a home in Hampden, Massachusetts, in 1925 that became Burgess' permanent residence in 1957. His second wife died in August 1950. Burgess returned frequently to Sandwich, which he always claimed as his birthplace and spiritual home.

In 1960, Burgess published his last book, "Now I Remember, Autobiography of an Amateur Naturalist," depicting memories of his early life in Sandwich, as well as his career highlights. That same year, Burgess, at the age of 86, had published his 15,000th story. He died on June 5, 1965, at the age of 91 in Hampden, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adventures of Sammy Jay appears to be a continuation of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, because they have a rivalry that includes Peter Rabbit as well. Although these stories appear to be interconnected, they actually are quite different but seem to reinforce similar values among which respect for nature is preeminent. The Harrison Cady illustrations are really helpful in visualizing the petty dramas of the Green Meadow, Green Forest, and the Smiling Pool.

The Adventures of Sammy Jay by Thornton Burgess is Book 10 of the Bedtime Story Books series. My father would read these to my brother and I, during bedtime just before praying, so they hold a special nostalgic place in my heart. My own three sons didn't appreciate these as much as I did. I hope to be able to read these to my grandchildren some day.

In any case, Sammy Jay and Chatterer have competing interests in stealing corn from Farmer Brown and his boy. Although Farmer Brown's boy likes Chatterer, he is not very happy with the stealing of the corn, and when he is told to find the culprit, the traps and guns come out. This is a classic work with some very good themes: both subtle, and overt.

[Noella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoewel dit boekje over Sammy Jay gaat, speelt Shatterer the Red Squirrel een grote rol in al zijn avonturen.
Nogmaals, een leuk verhaal.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This almost feels like it’s actually the adventures of Chatterer! It’s actually pretty much only a feud between Sammy & Chatterer over Farmer Brown’s corncrib & it feels like a direct continuation of “The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel.”  Like all the books in this series, it’s a quick, easy, sometimes humorous read with some good lessons. 

A Favourite Quote: “Wasn't it a terrible position to be in? Chatterer thought so. And all the time he knew that it was all his own fault. If he hadn't been so greedy and tried to scare Sammy Jay away from the corn-crib, he wouldn't be in such a fix now.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘If you'll promise not to tell Shadow where I am, you—you are welcome to all the corn you want at Farmer Brown's corn-crib,’ said Chatterer, in a very meek voice. 
“‘Indeed!’ replied Sammy. ‘How very generous of you, seeing that it doesn't belong to you, anyway, and I have just as much right to it as you have.’”

[Rod · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so simple "entertainment for kids", but if you're paying attention you'll find so much more. In fact a good part of the cleverness of Burgess' writing (when you're paying attention) is figuring out where he's disguising lessons in natural history, zoology, and animal behavior behind the veneer of gentlemanly conduct and interface between the various animals. I even love the way he describes each animal's coat of fur or feathers as if they were a suit of clothes, without ever actually telling you that's what he's doing. This series is a great source for learning how to teach without making it look like you're teaching.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had a blue jay that suddenly started appearing on our tree branch around the same time every morning as we were reading aloud. We decided this would be a fun adventure to read aloud and it did not disappoint. All my kids were begging me to read “one more chapter.” I read the book off of gutenburg.org and it also shows the pictures which is a fun treat to go along with the stories as well. I loved the moral thread throughout this one but also the reality of the struggle too.

[Lizze Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the Thornton Burgess books. Caleb will listen to these on repeat all day if I let him. (Audio on CanonPlus)

[Dusty Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic, wholesome.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thornton Burgess lived close to me, and I have been to the Laughing Brook and Green Meadow that he writes about. Therefore, these books hold a special place for me. I particularly liked this one, as it is fun to read about Chatterer and Sammy one-upping each other.

[Jimyanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thornton W. Burgess's stories of various animals are always delightful, and this one is no exception. I will say, however, that I was a bit disappointed by the amount of the story that was dedicated to Chatterer the Red Squirrel as a foil for Sammy Jay, and consequently how little we actually saw of Sammy. There is a whole book dedicated to Chatterer's adventures; it seems unfair that he got essentially half of the lead role in Sammy's book. Still a fun read, but I would have liked to see more attention dedicated specifically to Sammy Jay in "The Adventures of Sammy Jay", rather than treating the book as if it were titled "The Adventures of Sammy Jay and Chatterer the Red Squirrel".

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the Librivox audiobook narrated by Rachel with my children (7,8,9) - they love animal stories and always asked for "just one more chapter". These Thorton Burgess books are almost to short for my kids, but it's a nice filler/option for mealtimes when my hands are full.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little guy and I thought this was a good one! Sammy Jay is such a troublemaker but deep down has a good heart. Still doesn't top Mother West Wind but very entertaining especially the rivalry between Chatterer and Sammy.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

2018 read aloud with W age 4

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Burgess book. Mainly between Sammy Jay and Chatterer. We enjoyed it.

[Sparrow12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as his otter book.

[Jon E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked when Chatterer the Red Squirrel grabbed Sammy Jay's beak when Sammy Jay was picking seeds from the corn and Chatterer thought "well, I can keep this whole barn of corn to myself."

[Karli W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole family enjoyed this. We cannot wait to read others in the series.

[Jannia González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for intermediate English learners. Lots of new vocabulary and such good stories. Sammy and Chatterer are a pair of scamps.

[Viviana Mata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucas says:
“I like how Chatterer and Sammy Jay kept outsmarting each other. Sammy was the one who always had a backup plan. Chatterer ended up having the last laugh though.”

[Donna Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so this sweet story was a bit boring for me at 48. But when I was little, I devoured this series! I read everything by Burgess that I could find. Maybe I can't relate to it now, but I had a passion for his books when I was a girl. These cute little woodland creature stories are delightful as well as educational.

[Jonathan Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.)

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in 1915, this title is part of a huge series written by naturalist Thornton Burgess. Targeted at early elementary children, they narrate the fanciful adventures of various woodland creatures. They are somewhat similiar to Avi's Poppy and Ereth's Birthday.

I read these books as a child and am having great fun re-discovering them. They are popular with homeschooler groups, some of whom beleive nothing written after 1950 is any good. (Burgess died in 1964)

Not great literature by any means, but they are fun to read and share with your kids.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. He made Chatterer the red squirrel give him corn cause he played a trick on Sammy cause he learned about this. He made him give him corn. He made a bunch of tricks so the corn would be hard to get. He just wanted to scare him not really hurt him. He made him go to the house where he got the corn in broad daylight. When Farmer Brown's boy was doing his chores and Bowser the Hound and Farmer Brown's cat were awake and he almost got caught.

[Heather Wilmoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sammy Jay often does things he shouldn't do. In particular, he likes to steal things. Much of the time he just struts around trying to look like a fine gentleman in his blue coat and high cap. My second all time favorite book from T.W. Burgess is none other than Sammy Jay once again my library doesn't have this book Andy more;(

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories by Thornton Burgess never seem to get old in this house. As expected, my boys loved it. I can't help but feel that these stories are too childish for my eldest, but he still insists that he wants to read all of Burgess's books. I guess I can't complain since these are well written and instructive.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It was our first experience with Thornton Burgess. Charming and lovely to read aloud. The only disappointment was that it ended up being a bit more about Chatterer the Squirrel than Sammy Jay. My little boy loves blue jays, so we were hoping for a lot more Sammy Jay!

[WSL Library]

x4

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

as he bullies Chatterer the Red Squirrel.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of several Thornton W. Burgess books that I remember my dad reading to me and my sister when we were little. Loved them. Later read it on my own.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit they were more fun to read when I felt more moralistic. Such is the lot of a by-the-rules child who grows out of it.