The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad

The Bedtime Story Books

by Thornton W. Burgess

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Classics, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy, Audiobook, Middle Grade

37 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1916

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 Old Mr. Toad written by Thornton W. Burgess and illustrated by Harrison Cady is book #12 of the Bedtime Story Books collection. The entire series of books have illimitable nostalgia for me because my Dad would read them to my brother Marc and I when we were young. My brother is no longer around and Dad is old, so reading these bring back very powerful memories.

Here, Old Mr. Toad is racing to get to the Smiling Pool and that's how it starts. Along the way there are lessons learned about the relativistic nature of attractiveness, and bullying, the life cycle of toads, and other ecological lessons. All of these lessons are given at a rapid pace.

The characters are all animals except when Farmer Brown or his son are mentioned, but some of the supporting characters are either mentioned in other books, or mentioned to set up subsequent books. These would include: Granny and Reddy Fox, Johnny Chuck, Drummer the Woodpecker, Peter Rabbit, Mr. Mocker, Jerry Muskrat, Unc' Billy Possum, Danny Meadow Mouse, Chatterer Red Squirrel, Shadow the Crow, and even Sammy Jay.

Overall the series is extremely instructive with a particular emphasis on respect for all forms of nature: flora and fauna. The various modalities can be engaged with some distinct teaching strategies of repetition and rhyme. I really enjoyed this book although it must be noted that not all modern children will enjoy the antiquated language and themes. IMHO, this is classic although some won't appreciate the antiquated story telling.

[Noella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het verhaal van Old Mister Toad, die in de lente naar de poel gaat om er te zingen, en er dan blijft tot zijn kinderen op een regenachtige dag de wijde wereld in trekken. Mister Toad beleeft nog andere avonturen, onder meer wordt hij door Buster Bear uitgenodigd om samen (mieren) te eten, waardoor de Pad zo hoogmoedig wordt, dat hij al zijn andere vrienden met de nek aankijkt, tot ze hem een lesje leren.

Leuk, maar niet mijn favoriete boekje uit deze reeks.

[Bethanyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud to my 4 year old but my 10 year old also enjoyed it. We learned a lot about toads and enjoyed the story.

[Kacie-Jo Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, basically, Old Mr. Toad's neighbors think he's ugly and boring. One neighbor observes Old Mr. Toad for a few days and realizes that he's beautiful in his own way and exceptionally interesting. But still, no one really wants to hang out with him. Old Mr. Toad seemingly makes a friend (Buster Bear) and snubs his neighbors for the rest of the day. Then the narrator starts calling Old Mr. Toad ugly and his neighbors play a prank on him which could have gotten him killed. Old Mr. Toad feels really terrible for his mistake. Then everyone claims to be his trustworthy friends. 👀 But, it's just a children's book from 1916. I don't think it's meant for critical analysis. I did appreciate the descriptions of toad lifecycles and behavior.

[Jon E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked when Old Mr Toad and Old Grandfather Frog were getting dressed under a piece of bark. That's the part I liked.

[Harper Mahlburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harper age 8:Old Mr. Toad was acting strangely, and his behavior puzzled all the creatures of the Green Meadow. You see, he was in a hurry, and Old Mr. Toad NEVER hurried unless he was in danger. Where on earth could he be off to? To find out, Jimmy Skunk, Peter Cottontail, Unc' Billy Possum, and some other animals of the Green Forest secretly follow the old gentleman through the fields and woods as he makes his way to a very important engagement.
Young readers will enjoy discovering Old Mr. Toad's destination in this delightful tale by master storyteller, Thornton W. Burgess. Set in the timeless fictional locale of the Green Forest and the Smiling Pool, this book transports today's youngsters to the same world of gentle breezes and lovable creatures that has delighted generations of children before then. There, they'll enjoy the warmth and whimsy of this tale while learning important lessons about nature, the environment, and the "lesser folk of fur and feathers."

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This story tells quite a bit about toads, and deals with pride and judging people without knowing them. It’s a fun, interesting, quick read. 

A Favourite Quote: “...you know to give joy to others is to add to your own joy.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “From over in the Green Meadows rose the clear lilt of Carol the Meadow Lark, and among the alders just where the Laughing Brook ran into the Smiling Pool a flood of happiness was pouring from the throat of Little Friend the Song Sparrow.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Ah don' reckon Brer Toad can sing, but Ah 'lows that perhaps he thinks he can.’”

[Kirk Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adventures of Grandfather Frog reads much better. This book sacrifices story for education in morals and biology, is too folksy by half, and has a lot of bad poetry. The illustrations were never great, but they hired someone to make them worse, most likely to keep the cost of the book low. Actually, it could be worse, as the original style of the illustrations is from an era where you expect something racist to hope out of the corner at any moment, which maybe it does in the potential land mine dialect of the most minor character.

[J. Fosbenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

favorite quote:
________
“The sweet singers of the Smiling Pool, the hylas and the frogs and Old Mr. Toad, were pouring out their gladness as if they had not been singing most of the day. You see it was the hour they love best of all, the hour which seems to them just made for singing, and they were doing their best to tell Old Mother Nature how they love her, and how glad they were that she had brought back sweet Mistress Spring to waken them from their long sleep.”
- Thornton W. Burgess, THE ADVENTURES OF OLD MR. TOAD (1916)

[Book Riot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one to my 6 year old grandson, who loved it! I was happy to revisit an old favorite. Thornton W. Burgess’s books serve to teach life lessons while introducing readers to nature in a very entertaining way. The animal characters interact with each other in natural ways as they go through their daily routines and each have well developed personalities as do the wind, sun, breezes, brook, etc. A fun book!

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is regarded as a Bedtime Story-Book, written in 1916. I was bored with it. I know it's a classic, but the age group that might enjoy it best would be someone under the age of 5. If you like classics like this one, you may even enjoy it. But it is a very old classic and I would rather be reading a different story.

[Abigail Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Rabbit, ever curious, learns throughout this book about toads and how they behave. At the same time Mr. Toad, teaches his eager listeners, while getting himself in and out of different scrapes.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby loved this book! (8yrs)

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as much excitement or humor as some of the others, but still a good story.

[Sparrow12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the words of wisdom

[Rainee Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my kids, they loved it! Thornton Burgess was a distant relative, and my grandma had me read all his books when I was little, so it's lovely to be coming back to them with my kids.

[ML Gaza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect easy afternoon read-aloud to the kids!

[Marshall A. Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty repetitive language, but educational in a fairly fun way about nature and some basic morality.

[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)

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about nature and life's lessons.

[Anastasija · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a charming story that teaches valuable lessons about nature and wildlife in an engaging and accessible way.

[Annelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming book to teach kids all about toads and a bit about other animals, with a good moral story about pride at the end.

[Harish P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book. I will read it to my kid and hope he enjoys.

[Lindsey Finton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute. Great storytelling and lessons. The audiobook had my boys roaring with laughter!

[Alice Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute morals

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as a kid

[Jonathan Marshall · Rating 4 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.)

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thornton Burgess stories are very old-fashioned, simplistic, occasionally pedantic, and sometimes overly preachy. They also instilled in me a love of nature and wildlife, so they have a soft spot in my heart. All books written for children from this timer period, except for E. Nesbit and Lewis Carroll, have those same qualities.

I fuzzily remember reading about Old Mr. Toad as a kid. I certainly did not remember this chapter: Mr. Toad's friends try to teach him a lesson about being puffed up with pride, after he's invited to dine with Buster Bear (who apparently is a forest aristocrat); so they have Buster invite him to another meal, and also invite Mr. Blacksnake, who is a predator one step up the food chain from Mr. Toad. Mr. Toad escapes with his life, having learned a lesson that pride can get you killed by a snake; and also, a lesson that his friends are kind of dicky (afterall, they tried to get him killed). That's a macabre moral; nature, red in tooth and claw indeed.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. This has the flavor of "Wind in the Willows" but with a little less description, and therefore more dialogue. My six year old loved it and gave it five stars. The pictures are fun to look at. We learned a lot about toads as part of the bargain!

Upon starting this book, I read a list of others by this author on the back and was surprised to see "The adventures of Peter Cottontail." It made me wonder when the publication time was as compared to Beatrix Potter. I'd like to do some other research. It looks like Ms. Potter published first but not by too long and then Mr. Burgess and Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows) published in the same year 1908. All of these lovely woodland creatures brought to life simultaneously, it seems, in the minds of some very talented authors and illustrators.

Check out this Wikipedia link to see Burgess' very long list of publications:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton...

[Amy Adelseck · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are doing any study of toads with your kids this is the book to read. It was so cute and fun. It taught about the habits of toads in a fun creative way. I will never forget some of the things I learned. I didn't pick up this book with that in mind. We were on vacation and all the big kids and dads were gone for the day so I scanned a friends bookshelf looking for a book that would take about 3 hours to read aloud and this was the winner. This would also be a great car read.