Old Mother West Wind

by Thornton W. Burgess

Overview

Welcome to the timeless world of the Green Forest, the laughing Brook, and the Smiling Pool. Here young readers will meet a menagerie of funny and fascinating animal friends — Peter Cottontail, Jimmy Skunk, Reddy Fox, Grandfather Frog and many more — and learn about their exciting adventures.
In this beloved classic, the first in a series of highly popular animal tales by Thornton W. Burgess, children discover the answers to such questions as why Grandfather Frog has no tail and why Jimmy Skunk wears stripes. There's also great fun to be had in reading or hearing about the grand goings-on at Mink's swimming party, Little Joe Otter's slippery slide, and Reddy Fox's fishing expedition. These and many other adventures are told in a warm, whimsical way that combines gentle lessons about nature and wildlife with the fun of a good story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486288499
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	12/29/1995
Series:	Dover Children's Thrift Classics
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	435,516
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 14 Years

About the Author

Author and conservationist Thornton W. Burgess (1874–1965) wrote thousands of animal stories for children, starting with the 1910 publication of Old Mother West Wind. Burgess's tales convey his fascination with wildlife and his concern for nature, teaching gentle lessons about ecology and respect for the environment.

Table of Contents

1	Mrs. Redwing's Speckled Egg	3
2	How Reddy Fox Was Surprised	10
3	Why Grandfather Frog Has No Tail	19
4	Why Jimmy Skunk Wears Stripes	25
5	The Willful Little Breeze	37
6	Reddy Fox Goes Fishing	45
7	Jimmy Skunk Looks for Beetles	55
8	Billy Mink's Swimming Party	64
9	Peter Rabbit Plays a Joke	73
10	How Sammy Jay Was Found Out	81
11	Jerry Muskrat's Party	90
12	Johnny Chuck Finds the Best Thing in the World	97
13	Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox Play Tricks	104
14	The Tale of Tommy Trout, Who Didn't Mind	114
15	Little Joe Otter's Slippery Slide	119
16	Spotty the Turtle Wins a Race	126

Editorial Reviews

Michael Hague illustrates three collections of time-proven tales. Originally published in 1910, Old Mother West Wind by Thornton W. Burgess introduces a group of enchanting woodland creatures, the Merry Little Breezes, Reddy Fox and Tommy Trout among them, to a new generation of readers. Michael Hague's Favorite Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales offers nine classic stories including The Snow Queen, Thumbelina and The Little Mermaid, all adapted by Jane Woodward. And lastly, Hague portrays the lush habitat of Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. The handsomely designed oversize volumes present Hague's artwork in framed spreads and spot illustrations, just right for lap reading. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

"Aylesworth’s buoyant, rhythmic verse provides inspiration for a wondrous evolution of Gammell’s style.... Sheer delight for eyes, ears, and funny-bones."

—Kirkus Reviews, pointer

From the Publisher