The Burgess Animal Book for Children: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Nature Story by Thornton Burgess

by Thornton W. Burgess, C. J. Hoyt

Discover nature’s wonders—told as timeless stories.

In The Burgess Animal Book for Children, Thornton W. Burgess weaves together story and science in a way that has inspired generations. This modern retelling brings the same blend of imagination and education to a new generation of young readers.

Peter Rabbit, eager to learn about the creatures of the world, attends lessons taught by Old Mother Nature. Each day she introduces him—and readers—to a new group of animals, from squirrels and rabbits to bears, whales, and even bats. Through her gentle teaching, children learn about habitats, behaviors, diets, and the unique traits that make each animal special.

What’s Inside?

Readers will join Peter Rabbit and his woodland friends as
• Meet dozens of animals from North America and beyond.
• Discover how each animal survives in its natural habitat.
• Learn lessons about curiosity, respect, and the importance of protecting wildlife.

Every chapter combines engaging dialogue with accurate natural history, making this book an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions, classroom learning, or independent exploration for middle-grade readers.

Why Choose This Edition?

• Modern Outdated language has been refreshed for clarity and ease while keeping the storytelling charm intact.
• Nature Each chapter blends fact and story, helping children learn about zoology in a fun, memorable way.
• Timeless Encourages curiosity, respect for nature, and the joy of discovery.
• Wholesome and Perfect for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers looking for engaging, educational stories.

Perfect for Readers Who

• Animal adventure stories with educational value
• Classic children’s books retold in clear, modern English
• Nature study woven into engaging tales
• Talking animal stories that teach real science
• Homeschool or classroom resources for learning about animals

Age Range & Reading Level

Best for ages 7–12. Younger children will enjoy the stories as read-aloud lessons, while older readers can explore independently.

A Series of Modern Retellings

The Burgess Animal Book for Children is part of a growing series of modern retellings of Thornton W. Burgess classics. Families can collect the whole series for a library of nature-rich, wholesome, and engaging animal stories.

Final Word

Thornton W. Burgess combined storytelling with science in a way few authors have matched. With this adapted edition by C. J. Hoyt, The Burgess Animal Book for Children continues to teach, entertain, and inspire young naturalists for years to come.

Bring home The Burgess Animal Book for A Modern Retelling of the Classic Nature Story by Thornton Burgess and let your child discover the wonder of animals through story and science.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2025

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.