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Cubby in Wonderland
Mommie Bear and Cubby, her son, plan a journey from their cave under the Grand Teton peak to Wonderland Yellowstone Park. Cubby was delighted by the idea of such a long and wonderful journey and his surprise increased when they reached the Park. What happened there to Cubby and his mother is told in a manner that will charm and instruct the girls and boys who are introduced to Cubby and follow his adventures. Originally published in 1932."
146 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
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October 12, 2018
Cubby in Wonderland is a much-loved children’s book by Frances Joyce Farnsworth from 1932, which is still in print. Readers who know this book from their childhood invariably have fond memories of it, despite the old-fashioned tone.
The story is really a disguised travelogue for children, containing a surprising amount of information, facts and figures, about Yellowstone Park. Yet it is geared towards very young readers, most of whom will have had this book read to them. The main characters are Mommie Bear and Cubby, her son. One summer Mommie Bear decides Cubby is old enough to make a journey from their cave under the Grand Teton mountain peak, down to “Wonderland”, to learn all about the different animals and environment there. “Wonderland” was the name given to what we know as Yellowstone Park, by C.C. Clawson back in 1871, before it became a National Park, and the name is still often used.
Cubby is very excited by the idea of such a long and wonderful journey, and he thoroughly enjoys all the rolling and sliding down the mountain they have to do to get there. All the time Mommie Bear is teaching him new things, and when they reach Wonderland, there are yet more surprises in store. He meets lots of other animals such as Mr. Moose, Mrs. Otter and Mrs. Pelican, and they all explain their habitats and their ways in a very entertaining style. Cubby had been startled to see what looked like a tree walking towards him, and of course it turned out to be Mr. Moose. In the course of their conversation, one of his magnificent antlers drops off, and Mr. Moose feels rather light-headed. He goes away to be by himself until the new ones start to sprout. Such amazing experiences for young Cubby! As far as I can tell, all the facts about animals are accurate, and I’m sure they would have been believed to be so in 1932.
Some of the facts about wildlife and geology may even be new to the adult reading to the child, which adds interest and is another bonus. For instance, Mrs. Otter explains how she has to teach her babies to swim, whereas we may have assumed that this is instinctive. The author makes such learning experiences interesting to children through these fictitious encounters, and the animals’ conversations, rather than reading a dry textbook. At Roosevelt Lodge for example, they meet an antelope, with the distinguished name of “P.H. Antelope”; the initials standing for “Pronghorn” antelope. P.H. Antelope is very proud that he is the only antelope with a branched horn, and describes to Cubby how the outer sheath of his horn is hollow and is shed. They also meet the tourists, who at that time had been encouraged to drive through the Park, but discouraged from feeding the bears, (although they often disobeyed these cautions).
Mommie Bear and Cubby both learn a lot, both from the other creatures and from the humans too. They learn that the Ranger is their friend, and where the humans may sometimes behave in a silly fashion, the Ranger will protect the animals and their environment. The descriptions of humans as being just like bears and all different colours - black, brown, red “and even “yellow” ones” made me pause, but none of this was truly offensive in the spirit of the story, and given the time it was written.
Although the 21st century me squirmed sometimes at the impossible tweeness of it all, I did enjoy accompanying Mommie Bear and Cubby to all the major landmarks, particularly the bubbling mud at the “Dragon Mouth Springs”. I’ve never been to Yellowstone, sadly, but recognised this phenomenon as the same as Rotorua, in New Zealand. Mommie Bear’s explanation of this to Cubby is excellent! Some tour guides (both people and books) could take a lesson from her. At “Mammoth Hot Springs”, (just as in “Fairy Springs” in Rotorua) there are beautiful colours, and they learn how the different colours in the pools are formed both by minerals, and by algae, living at different temperatures; impossibly hot by animal standards. Naturally, curious Cubby is foolish enough to try to stick his hand in one of the pools, but is quickly prevented by Mommie Bear.
We learn of the terraces with their beautiful stalactitic formations. These reminded me so much of the limestone caves in Derbyshire, or Cheddar Gorge.
I also very much enjoyed Mommie Bear’s attempt to teach Cubby how to tear the bark from the base of a tree, in order to eat the sweet underbark. The trouble was that the tree she chose was part of the petrified forest, so she jumped back, startled to find her teeth hurting! Again, the explanation for this was simply and effectively told. Each of the the trees there was once a living tree of wood, but volcanic mud encased it and eventually each bit of tree had been replaced by silica, until a stone stump remained, an echo of the tree’s living form. I have seen many pieces of petrified wood, but this is the only forest I know of; how I would love to have accompanied Mommie Bear and Cubby. I’d love to have seen the “glass mountain” made of black obsidian, too.
There are episodes where Cubby inadvertently gets a little too near people and their tents, and a naughtier young bear called “Troublesome”, gets into all sorts of scrapes. But there is little actual story, and these parts are not really fully fleshed out; the main thrust being the encounters with different animal species, and the wonders of nature. The end description is of course at Lake Yellowstone and “Old Faithful”. Overwhelmed by its magnificence, Mommie Bear and Cubby watch it erupt several times, along with all the tourists. Mommie Bear then decides that the nights are closing in. Much as she likes the geysers and the hot caves, she yearns for their home cave, at the top of the mountain, and they start the journey back to Grand Teton peak.
This is very possibly the most anthropomorphic book I have ever read, (and I’m quite a fan of children’s books!) Not only are all the animals friendly with each other, but they all helpfully explain their characteristics and habits, all apparently speaking the same language. Mommie Bear may have recognised that humans are different “types”, but oddly she seems to understand every single word each of them says, and they notice her sitting attentively listening to them, “as if she understands exactly what [we] are saying!”
All I can say about this is that you have to go with it. Certainly by the end I was accepting the convention. There are charming invented myths included too; stories of the water sprites, or the giants in the mountains, told by Mommie Bear and Cubby to each other.
The edition I read was from 1958. The paper is thick, and the text is printed in sepia on cream pages. There are illustrations; line drawings again in sepia, with Mommie Bear and Cubby represented as silhouettes. I was delighted and intrigued to find in the front, an inscription, “Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, July 1969” the stylish script written beautifully in fountain pen, in a decidedly French-looking hand. Sometimes I wonder at the history and provenance of the books I read. Perhaps this had been sold as a secondhand book to raise funds for the Grand Teton Park, to a French tourist in 1969, and then somehow found its way to England to me, last year in 2017. It also mentions two more books by the author: “Cubby Returns to Yellowstone” and “Tike and Tiny in the Tetons”.
When I started this book, I fully expected to be wincing and rating it at one star by the end, for its syrupy language. But it has won me round, and despite showing its age, will remain at my default of three stars. As long as you remember that it was written in 1932, you might find yourself chuckling aloud at the adventures of Mommie Bear and Cubby. I believe it to be deserving of a read for yourself, and maybe a read of a chapter at a time for tiny tots too.
The story is really a disguised travelogue for children, containing a surprising amount of information, facts and figures, about Yellowstone Park. Yet it is geared towards very young readers, most of whom will have had this book read to them. The main characters are Mommie Bear and Cubby, her son. One summer Mommie Bear decides Cubby is old enough to make a journey from their cave under the Grand Teton mountain peak, down to “Wonderland”, to learn all about the different animals and environment there. “Wonderland” was the name given to what we know as Yellowstone Park, by C.C. Clawson back in 1871, before it became a National Park, and the name is still often used.
Cubby is very excited by the idea of such a long and wonderful journey, and he thoroughly enjoys all the rolling and sliding down the mountain they have to do to get there. All the time Mommie Bear is teaching him new things, and when they reach Wonderland, there are yet more surprises in store. He meets lots of other animals such as Mr. Moose, Mrs. Otter and Mrs. Pelican, and they all explain their habitats and their ways in a very entertaining style. Cubby had been startled to see what looked like a tree walking towards him, and of course it turned out to be Mr. Moose. In the course of their conversation, one of his magnificent antlers drops off, and Mr. Moose feels rather light-headed. He goes away to be by himself until the new ones start to sprout. Such amazing experiences for young Cubby! As far as I can tell, all the facts about animals are accurate, and I’m sure they would have been believed to be so in 1932.
Some of the facts about wildlife and geology may even be new to the adult reading to the child, which adds interest and is another bonus. For instance, Mrs. Otter explains how she has to teach her babies to swim, whereas we may have assumed that this is instinctive. The author makes such learning experiences interesting to children through these fictitious encounters, and the animals’ conversations, rather than reading a dry textbook. At Roosevelt Lodge for example, they meet an antelope, with the distinguished name of “P.H. Antelope”; the initials standing for “Pronghorn” antelope. P.H. Antelope is very proud that he is the only antelope with a branched horn, and describes to Cubby how the outer sheath of his horn is hollow and is shed. They also meet the tourists, who at that time had been encouraged to drive through the Park, but discouraged from feeding the bears, (although they often disobeyed these cautions).
Mommie Bear and Cubby both learn a lot, both from the other creatures and from the humans too. They learn that the Ranger is their friend, and where the humans may sometimes behave in a silly fashion, the Ranger will protect the animals and their environment. The descriptions of humans as being just like bears and all different colours - black, brown, red “and even “yellow” ones” made me pause, but none of this was truly offensive in the spirit of the story, and given the time it was written.
Although the 21st century me squirmed sometimes at the impossible tweeness of it all, I did enjoy accompanying Mommie Bear and Cubby to all the major landmarks, particularly the bubbling mud at the “Dragon Mouth Springs”. I’ve never been to Yellowstone, sadly, but recognised this phenomenon as the same as Rotorua, in New Zealand. Mommie Bear’s explanation of this to Cubby is excellent! Some tour guides (both people and books) could take a lesson from her. At “Mammoth Hot Springs”, (just as in “Fairy Springs” in Rotorua) there are beautiful colours, and they learn how the different colours in the pools are formed both by minerals, and by algae, living at different temperatures; impossibly hot by animal standards. Naturally, curious Cubby is foolish enough to try to stick his hand in one of the pools, but is quickly prevented by Mommie Bear.
We learn of the terraces with their beautiful stalactitic formations. These reminded me so much of the limestone caves in Derbyshire, or Cheddar Gorge.
I also very much enjoyed Mommie Bear’s attempt to teach Cubby how to tear the bark from the base of a tree, in order to eat the sweet underbark. The trouble was that the tree she chose was part of the petrified forest, so she jumped back, startled to find her teeth hurting! Again, the explanation for this was simply and effectively told. Each of the the trees there was once a living tree of wood, but volcanic mud encased it and eventually each bit of tree had been replaced by silica, until a stone stump remained, an echo of the tree’s living form. I have seen many pieces of petrified wood, but this is the only forest I know of; how I would love to have accompanied Mommie Bear and Cubby. I’d love to have seen the “glass mountain” made of black obsidian, too.
There are episodes where Cubby inadvertently gets a little too near people and their tents, and a naughtier young bear called “Troublesome”, gets into all sorts of scrapes. But there is little actual story, and these parts are not really fully fleshed out; the main thrust being the encounters with different animal species, and the wonders of nature. The end description is of course at Lake Yellowstone and “Old Faithful”. Overwhelmed by its magnificence, Mommie Bear and Cubby watch it erupt several times, along with all the tourists. Mommie Bear then decides that the nights are closing in. Much as she likes the geysers and the hot caves, she yearns for their home cave, at the top of the mountain, and they start the journey back to Grand Teton peak.
This is very possibly the most anthropomorphic book I have ever read, (and I’m quite a fan of children’s books!) Not only are all the animals friendly with each other, but they all helpfully explain their characteristics and habits, all apparently speaking the same language. Mommie Bear may have recognised that humans are different “types”, but oddly she seems to understand every single word each of them says, and they notice her sitting attentively listening to them, “as if she understands exactly what [we] are saying!”
All I can say about this is that you have to go with it. Certainly by the end I was accepting the convention. There are charming invented myths included too; stories of the water sprites, or the giants in the mountains, told by Mommie Bear and Cubby to each other.
The edition I read was from 1958. The paper is thick, and the text is printed in sepia on cream pages. There are illustrations; line drawings again in sepia, with Mommie Bear and Cubby represented as silhouettes. I was delighted and intrigued to find in the front, an inscription, “Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, July 1969” the stylish script written beautifully in fountain pen, in a decidedly French-looking hand. Sometimes I wonder at the history and provenance of the books I read. Perhaps this had been sold as a secondhand book to raise funds for the Grand Teton Park, to a French tourist in 1969, and then somehow found its way to England to me, last year in 2017. It also mentions two more books by the author: “Cubby Returns to Yellowstone” and “Tike and Tiny in the Tetons”.
When I started this book, I fully expected to be wincing and rating it at one star by the end, for its syrupy language. But it has won me round, and despite showing its age, will remain at my default of three stars. As long as you remember that it was written in 1932, you might find yourself chuckling aloud at the adventures of Mommie Bear and Cubby. I believe it to be deserving of a read for yourself, and maybe a read of a chapter at a time for tiny tots too.
November 28, 2009
Highly recommended for anyone who loves Yellowstone National Park, bears, children’s chapter books, animals, books from the 1930s—-or some subset of these.
Written in 1932, when it was common for tourists to feed Yellowstone’s bears from their cars, this story is an absolute delight. Mommie Bear and Cubby travel from the Grand Tetons through Yellowstone Park. Along the way, they (and the young reader) learn many things about the science behind the natural phenomena of Yellowstone. Cubby is a dear little soul and a very appreciative observer of beauty. Here is his reaction when the Water Sprite describes her creation of Yellowstone Falls: “And people and bears,” said Cubby, happily, “come and look at its beauty and are not able to think of words that can tell how it makes them feel.”
Cubby and Mommie Bear meet many other animals on their travels and have some interesting encounters with the two-legged tourists as well. This is a very cozy read.
Written in 1932, when it was common for tourists to feed Yellowstone’s bears from their cars, this story is an absolute delight. Mommie Bear and Cubby travel from the Grand Tetons through Yellowstone Park. Along the way, they (and the young reader) learn many things about the science behind the natural phenomena of Yellowstone. Cubby is a dear little soul and a very appreciative observer of beauty. Here is his reaction when the Water Sprite describes her creation of Yellowstone Falls: “And people and bears,” said Cubby, happily, “come and look at its beauty and are not able to think of words that can tell how it makes them feel.”
Cubby and Mommie Bear meet many other animals on their travels and have some interesting encounters with the two-legged tourists as well. This is a very cozy read.
June 30, 2024
I picked up this delightful little book at a library sale several years ago. The old style writing, the setting, and the cast of characters (mainly animals, of course) make for a fun read as well as a step back into another time.
The best way to get a sense of the story is to read the first few sentences:
"I'm thinking of taking you on a trip this summer," said Mommie Bear, as she peered out of her cave in Grand Teton Mountain.
"Oh, goody," said Cubby, happily, "I'd love to travel. Where are we going?"
"I think we'll go over toward the Yellowstone Park, Cubby." Mommie wisely rubbed her nose with a great paw. "Last summer I met a bear who said there was nice fishing to be had and that the two-legged tribe was kind to all of our family."
"But, Mother," said Cubby, "we'll miss our mountains and our pretty looking-glass lakes."
Yes, this is a little syrupy and very anthropomorphic, but that was typical of the times.
The best way to get a sense of the story is to read the first few sentences:
"I'm thinking of taking you on a trip this summer," said Mommie Bear, as she peered out of her cave in Grand Teton Mountain.
"Oh, goody," said Cubby, happily, "I'd love to travel. Where are we going?"
"I think we'll go over toward the Yellowstone Park, Cubby." Mommie wisely rubbed her nose with a great paw. "Last summer I met a bear who said there was nice fishing to be had and that the two-legged tribe was kind to all of our family."
"But, Mother," said Cubby, "we'll miss our mountains and our pretty looking-glass lakes."
Yes, this is a little syrupy and very anthropomorphic, but that was typical of the times.
July 19, 2023
This book was given to me years ago by a co-worker in Yellowstone because it is about a bear cub visiting Yellowstone. She found it in Oregon at a garage sell. It appears to be a first edition from 1932. It has sat on my shelf of vintage children's books but caught my eye yesterday. What a delight! Cubby and Mommie Bear enter the park from the south (Tetons), travel north on the east side (West Thumb, Lake, Canyon, Mount Washburn, Roosevelt, Petrified Tree) to Mammoth at the north end. They journey back south on the west side (Hoodoos, Obsidian Cliff, Roaring Mountain, Old Faithful). Meeting assorted animal characters and listening to conversations of tourists and rangers, they learn about Yellowstone. As I finished it I realized this has to be the first book I give to my grandchild so there will be knowledge of the wonderland I lived in for so very long. With the understanding, of course, that you can no longer feed the bears!
June 20, 2022
Written in 1932, Cubby in Wonderland tells the story of Mommie bear and her cub, Cubby, and their summer adventures in Yellowstone. The animals talk, so there are cute dialogues between them that are a fun and effective way to learn about their homes, habitats, etc. Less effective, in my opinion, were the stories about giants and fairies to explain geologic features like piles of boulders, Old Faithful, petrified trees, and the mud pots (I just couldn’t buy into the idea that the mud pots are fairy dens). Mommie and Cubby spend a lot of time shadowing friendly park rangers to learn things about the park. They also eat a lot of junk food! Other than the language, the thing that dated this book the most was the relationship between bears and park visitors. “Feed the bears” was the motto in the 1930s. Cubby and his mother learn to stand in the road to get cars to stop and throw food at them. They forage in trash cans, come to a communal feeding ground to be gawked at by tourists, and pretty much enjoy food flying at them from cabins, motels, little girls with sandwiches they don't want, and anyone who just wants a photo op! It was funny, but obviously a bad idea. ;) Overall, this is a cute book and if your kid has the patience for a slow, old fashioned story, it’s a good read.
May 30, 2026
My first chapter book read with Dominic that has limited illustrations. I was going to give it 3 stars, he said 5, so we met in the middle. It was a cute book that taught about woodland creatures and Yellowstone. We liked that we could look up the places and animals after reading about them. This book is from the 30s, so the limited and black and white illustrations was a negative. If it was a book meant for older kids it wouldn't be a big deal, but I think it's targeted for 4-7 year olds. I also substituted some of the words (red people) for him.
May 27, 2021
Kids would probably give this a four. I found it overly quaint (somehow in a not good way) and slightly boring. But, it was a novel introduction to aspects Yellowstone national park before we travel there.
August 10, 2016
Mommie Bear sets out with Cubby to see/learn about the many wonderful things in nature. I love these old-style books (sweet and slow), and this one is chocked full of information.
My favorite passages: (1) When Black Bear wants to share his made up verses Mommie Bear informs, "I wouldn't want Cubby to hear anything that wasn't nice." Black Bear insists it's very nice. Mommie Bear adds, "Well, I'm not so sure ... But go on. If we don't like it, we shall not stay."
(2)After Black Bear requests a response regarding his poem. "Well," said Mommie Bear, "I guess I was afraid to speak my thoughts ... It isn't always wise to say just what one thinks."
(3) "The way to learn is to ask. I do not want you to go through this wonderland with your eyes shut. Look about you and ask about the things you do not understand. Perhaps your mother and I may not be able to tell you all you want to know, but we can ask, too, and find out."
(4) "...remember that when one loses his temper, he is apt to do something for which he will always be sorry."
My favorite passages: (1) When Black Bear wants to share his made up verses Mommie Bear informs, "I wouldn't want Cubby to hear anything that wasn't nice." Black Bear insists it's very nice. Mommie Bear adds, "Well, I'm not so sure ... But go on. If we don't like it, we shall not stay."
(2)After Black Bear requests a response regarding his poem. "Well," said Mommie Bear, "I guess I was afraid to speak my thoughts ... It isn't always wise to say just what one thinks."
(3) "The way to learn is to ask. I do not want you to go through this wonderland with your eyes shut. Look about you and ask about the things you do not understand. Perhaps your mother and I may not be able to tell you all you want to know, but we can ask, too, and find out."
(4) "...remember that when one loses his temper, he is apt to do something for which he will always be sorry."
April 25, 2014
This was a great favorite of my childhood, and it was an old book even then. Cubby Bear and his mother wander through Yellowstone National Park and have many adventures. Looking at it again, I can see it's woefully anthropomorphic, but it still has a lot of charm and manages to sneak in a lot of natural history in a pleasant way.
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March 15, 2012A delightful first chapter book read to me by my first grade teacher years ago. I reread the book and enjoyed it just as much realizing the time it was written when bears were fed for cars in Yellowstone National Park. A great story with some history to go along with it.
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