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Among the People #2
Among the Forest People
Clara D. Pierson's Among the ... People series features short stories originally written to entertain and teach the children of her kindergarten. Each story introduces them to the animals found around them, many of which have a sweet moral at the end guiding children to act and behave in the right manner.
Among the Forest People contains 20 lovely tales, all illustrated with beautiful color photographs of many animals featured. Children will sit with rapt attention as they hear about Why Mr Great Horned Owl Hatched the Eggs, The Swaggering Crow, The Bees and the Kingbird, The Haughty Ground Hog, and many more creatures of the forest.
Be sure to pick up the other books in the Among the ... People series with gorgeous new illustrations also available from Living Book Press.
Among the Forest People contains 20 lovely tales, all illustrated with beautiful color photographs of many animals featured. Children will sit with rapt attention as they hear about Why Mr Great Horned Owl Hatched the Eggs, The Swaggering Crow, The Bees and the Kingbird, The Haughty Ground Hog, and many more creatures of the forest.
Be sure to pick up the other books in the Among the ... People series with gorgeous new illustrations also available from Living Book Press.
127 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 1898
106 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Clara Dillingham Pierson
54 books13 followersClara Dillingham Pierson (d. 1952) was an early 20th century American children's author. Her most popular works were quasi-naturalistic stories about animals. Her Among the People series of animal story collections, published between 1897 and 1902, placed her among the leading nature-story authors of her day. Like similar animal tales written a few years later by Thornton Burgess, her stories often carried a moral.
Another of her series featured the adventures of the three Miller children who live in a house called Pencroft, named for Pierson's summer home in Omena, Michigan. She built it with her income as a writer.
Another of her series featured the adventures of the three Miller children who live in a house called Pencroft, named for Pierson's summer home in Omena, Michigan. She built it with her income as a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 16, 2021
This is a fantastic book of short stories about the animals and insects that live in the forest. The book subtly takes you through the year, starting in early spring and ending in late winter, while also teaching timeless life lessons through the interesting stories about the different types of creatures. I really love the writing style of the mid to late 19th century, so this book was a delight to consume and taught me some really interesting facts about the natural world.
December 18, 2019
I read this with my daughter as part of her homeschool curriculum. It was such a joy to share this lovely book with her. We both loved it immensely and are looking forward to starting another from the series, Among the Meadow People, next term.
August 16, 2020
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I was expecting this to be your usual cute, talking-down-to-children, slightly funny story, but I was pleasantly surprised. There was very little patronizing, and the stories were cute and interesting. I didn’t find it a chore at all to read. :) Quite recommended!
A Favourite Quote: “It seemed very strange that so old a Snake should be so undecided as she was. It must be that she had a careless mother who did not bring her up in the right way. If that were so, one should indeed be sorry for her. Still even that would be no real excuse, for was she not old enough now to train herself?”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I only wish that I could go,’ said the big Drone, limping as he got out of her way; ‘but my fifth foot just stepped on my third foot, and I can hardly move.’
“When he said this, all the Workers smiled, and even the Queen-Mother had to turn away her head. The Drones looked as solemn as possible. It would not do for them to laugh at their brother. They did not want him to laugh at them when they made excuses for staying at home. They even pretended not to hear one of the Workers when she said that it was funny how some people couldn't use their wings if one of their feet hurt them.”
A Favourite Quote: “It seemed very strange that so old a Snake should be so undecided as she was. It must be that she had a careless mother who did not bring her up in the right way. If that were so, one should indeed be sorry for her. Still even that would be no real excuse, for was she not old enough now to train herself?”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I only wish that I could go,’ said the big Drone, limping as he got out of her way; ‘but my fifth foot just stepped on my third foot, and I can hardly move.’
“When he said this, all the Workers smiled, and even the Queen-Mother had to turn away her head. The Drones looked as solemn as possible. It would not do for them to laugh at their brother. They did not want him to laugh at them when they made excuses for staying at home. They even pretended not to hear one of the Workers when she said that it was funny how some people couldn't use their wings if one of their feet hurt them.”
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October 16, 2021This was Jacob’s nature reader for this term. Very delightful.
November 4, 2021
While I didn't like this one quite as much as the more cheerful Meadow People, and while we had already learned much of the natural history through the Burgess Bird Book, I still found the Aesop-like lessons excellent and the gentle humor charming.
One funny/telling anecdote: my middle child commented, "Parents always know so much more than the children in this book!" I laughed and told her it was true in real life, too, but isn't it interesting how it seemed unique to her for a book to have children who needed to learn from wise parents?
One funny/telling anecdote: my middle child commented, "Parents always know so much more than the children in this book!" I laughed and told her it was true in real life, too, but isn't it interesting how it seemed unique to her for a book to have children who needed to learn from wise parents?
August 8, 2023
Great intro to forest animals
I love the way Pierson introduces the variety of forest animals in this book. The chapters can each stand alone. The story both end ears you to the animal and teaches about them.
I love the way Pierson introduces the variety of forest animals in this book. The chapters can each stand alone. The story both end ears you to the animal and teaches about them.
October 27, 2019
My children enjoyed reading one chapter of this book each week. They were able to narrate it at the end of term so it did make an impression on them.
November 17, 2019
These are quite fun animal tales.
May 12, 2020
Excellent nature themed stories for reading to children before bed.
October 22, 2020
We loved this sweet book! Each chapter focuses on a different animal character and the kids got a kick out of the humor
October 29, 2020
This is a lovely book for nature study. It sparked many great conversations and was an enjoyable read. I really wish my copy was illustrated.
February 8, 2022
Read for our 1st grade Language Arts curriculum.
October 28, 2024
Really well done book about nature!
November 2, 2025
I read this aloud to my 7 year old son. He told me he wanted to give it 1,000 stars. I thought it was cute, but didn’t enjoy it as much as he did.
June 6, 2008
This is one of the best books we've read thus far. It is a series of animal stories and each story tells a little bit (or a lot) about the habits and characteristics of a different animal. They all talk so if you don't like talking animals then don't read these.
Each story also has a subtle moral like obey your parents, don't gossip, pride can get you in trouble, etc.
This is truly a "living book", as Charlotte Mason would say. It was so well written (a bit old-fashioned though) and taught so much in such an engaging and simple manner. At the end of the chapter I'd ask them what they learned about a particular animal and they'd have lists of things. And they've remembered it and continue to make observations based on what they learned.
We read a chapter a day and then we'd look online to find an actual picture of the animal we had just read about. We tried to find video clips as well.
We're currently reading another book by this author "Among the Night People" and are really liking that. We plan on reading all her books.
Each story also has a subtle moral like obey your parents, don't gossip, pride can get you in trouble, etc.
This is truly a "living book", as Charlotte Mason would say. It was so well written (a bit old-fashioned though) and taught so much in such an engaging and simple manner. At the end of the chapter I'd ask them what they learned about a particular animal and they'd have lists of things. And they've remembered it and continue to make observations based on what they learned.
We read a chapter a day and then we'd look online to find an actual picture of the animal we had just read about. We tried to find video clips as well.
We're currently reading another book by this author "Among the Night People" and are really liking that. We plan on reading all her books.
January 1, 2023
Read to my 5 and 6 year old. Somewhere between natural history and fiction. I assumed a 120-year-old book would have a lot of factual mistakes in the claims about animals, but Dillingham Pierson seems to have been a knowledgeable naturalist. If you don't already know a lot about bee reproduction and the childrearing practices of cowbirds, you will.
The social framing of the animal stories is what you'd expect from 1898. Most of it ages pretty well except a story about a moth defending his ladyfriend's honor after some other moths speak informally to her. There are some more timeless morals about vanity and heeding safety instructions. My kids didn't seem to find it overly preachy. We like it enough to keep reading the other books in the series.
The social framing of the animal stories is what you'd expect from 1898. Most of it ages pretty well except a story about a moth defending his ladyfriend's honor after some other moths speak informally to her. There are some more timeless morals about vanity and heeding safety instructions. My kids didn't seem to find it overly preachy. We like it enough to keep reading the other books in the series.
October 5, 2025
3.5 stars
I'm really enjoying these
1. Mr. Red Squirrel Comes to Live in the Forest
2. Why Mr. Great Horned Owl Hatched the Eggs
3. The Swaggering Crow
4. The Red Headed Woodpecker Children
5. The Night Moth with a Crooked Feeler
6. The Bees and the Kingbird
7. The Story of the Cow bird's Egg
8. Mrs. Mourning Dove's Housekeeping
9. The Young Blue Jay Who Was Not Brave Enough to Be Afraid
10. The Red Squirrels Begin Housekeeping
11. The Biggest Little Rabbit Learns to See
12. The Little Bat Who Wouldn't Go to Bed
13. A Swarm Leaving the Bee Tree
14. The Haughty Ground Hog
15. The Undecided Rattlesnake
16. The Quarrelsome Mole
17. The Wild Turkeys Come
18. The Travelers Go South
19. The Ruffed Grouse's Story
20. A Mild Day in Winter
I'm really enjoying these
1. Mr. Red Squirrel Comes to Live in the Forest
2. Why Mr. Great Horned Owl Hatched the Eggs
3. The Swaggering Crow
4. The Red Headed Woodpecker Children
5. The Night Moth with a Crooked Feeler
6. The Bees and the Kingbird
7. The Story of the Cow bird's Egg
8. Mrs. Mourning Dove's Housekeeping
9. The Young Blue Jay Who Was Not Brave Enough to Be Afraid
10. The Red Squirrels Begin Housekeeping
11. The Biggest Little Rabbit Learns to See
12. The Little Bat Who Wouldn't Go to Bed
13. A Swarm Leaving the Bee Tree
14. The Haughty Ground Hog
15. The Undecided Rattlesnake
16. The Quarrelsome Mole
17. The Wild Turkeys Come
18. The Travelers Go South
19. The Ruffed Grouse's Story
20. A Mild Day in Winter
January 1, 2025
Such a cute book! We've been reading this for our natural history curriculum, and I've just found it delightful. Each chapter approaches a different animal, but intertwined with facts about the animal are different principles and virtues. It can actually get quite silly at parts too :) A great read aloud!
January 23, 2021
This was such an enjoyable read, at times I caught myself smiling and laughing outloud, I love that this booo explores so many things regarding real life situations and inserting it in such a simple way🤚🏽✨I definitely recommend!
August 1, 2007
Delightful nature readings for children.
Currently reading
January 12, 2011A nice "living book" about various animals that live in the forest.
April 22, 2019
I only heard "The Night Moth with the Crooked Feelers." I really liked it.
July 19, 2023
3.5 stars. It is written in an old-fashioned way and is and fun (my kids LOVED it) but a little too heavy on the fictional side to glean as much info about the animals as I would have hoped.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews