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The Bedtime Story Books
The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse
A plump little meadow mouse is always an inviting target for hungry hunters in the Green Meadows. This certainly should give Danny Meadow Mouse enough cause for concern; but lately, he's been worrying about something else — his short tail! In fact, he wants so much to have a different tail that he almost forgets to take care of the one he has.
Danny spends much of his time avoiding the likes of Hooty the Owl, who drifts effortlessly above him in the open air; Reddy Fox and old Granny Fox, who stalk him as he races through snow tunnels; Mr. Blacksnake, who silently slithers after him through the grass; and other pesky predators.
Youngsters will enjoy reading and listening to the adventures of the plucky vole and his friends as they explore Farmer Brown's orchard, the Old Briar-patch, and the enchanting world of the Green Forest. The text has been completely reset in large, easy-to-read type and Thea Kliros has adapted six black-and-white illustrations from the originals by Harrison Cady.
Danny spends much of his time avoiding the likes of Hooty the Owl, who drifts effortlessly above him in the open air; Reddy Fox and old Granny Fox, who stalk him as he races through snow tunnels; Mr. Blacksnake, who silently slithers after him through the grass; and other pesky predators.
Youngsters will enjoy reading and listening to the adventures of the plucky vole and his friends as they explore Farmer Brown's orchard, the Old Briar-patch, and the enchanting world of the Green Forest. The text has been completely reset in large, easy-to-read type and Thea Kliros has adapted six black-and-white illustrations from the originals by Harrison Cady.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1915
24 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Thornton W. Burgess
824 books203 followersThornton 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 12, 2014
My 7 yr old gave these books a 5. I agree. "His books are awesome' she says.I liked the way morals were told in an entertaining way. I bet my daughter didn't feel she was being moralized at because she wanted to hear the whole book. I've tried others that had a distinct 'moral' or 'value' and she hates it.(Books that go ... is thankful or ... learns to be honest. blah.
Burgess books are interesting entertaining and a good read. Hopefully the little lessons learned by the animals were also learned and put away in the back of my daughter's mind!
But if not, that's ok. A book is meant to entertain and if it did that, that works for me.
They are a little 'old-fashioned' meaning the sun is called: Mr. round red jolly sun, the wind is Old Mother West Wind, a breeze is One of Mother West Wind's Children, the Merry Little Breezes etc. Quaint and not exactly science but endearing nonetheless. But other than that these books are science in story form. The stories are about real life things that frogs or bears or skunks do or could do. Unlike most books with animals as main characters where they learn to ride bikes, win the spelling bee at school etc. Beginning animal lore for young children. Or budding animal lovers.
If you miss any of these from your local library they are also on Gutenberg's free books site.
Personally I think that these should be re-released with new covers so kids will read them again.
The books themselves:
Danny Meadow Mouse: Danny gets upset because he has a short tail. He also gets caught by Hooty the Owl, who wants him for dinner.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: greed, anger, envy, kindness, friendship, look before you leap.
Grandfather Frog: He decides it's time for him to see more of the world. A little risk keeps life exciting. He has some exciting adventures before discovering 'there's no place like home'.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: greed, mischieviousness, thoughtlessness, patience.
Buster Bear: Buster moves to the Green woods. This doesn't please the other animals because he takes 'their' fish, and they are frightened of him. But when the animals find out that Farmer Brown's Boy is afraid of Buster, they look at him with new eyes...until they find out the next personality trait Buster shows.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: temper, new friends come to the neighborhood.
Old Mother West Wind: A group of stories with Mother West Wind or her Little Breezes helping the animals of the Meadow and forest. A couple of 'how the xxx got/ lost zzz' stories also that were quite entertaining.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: vanity, friendship, contentment, helpfulness.
Old Man Coyote: Something is making a new sound in the Green Meadows/ Green Forest. The animals don't know what it could be. When it is discovered who has moved in, Granny Fox is determined to oust them from HER feeding grounds. Granny is in for a surprise because this stranger isn't easy to fool.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: courage, resisting temptation, good planning.
Burgess books are interesting entertaining and a good read. Hopefully the little lessons learned by the animals were also learned and put away in the back of my daughter's mind!
But if not, that's ok. A book is meant to entertain and if it did that, that works for me.
They are a little 'old-fashioned' meaning the sun is called: Mr. round red jolly sun, the wind is Old Mother West Wind, a breeze is One of Mother West Wind's Children, the Merry Little Breezes etc. Quaint and not exactly science but endearing nonetheless. But other than that these books are science in story form. The stories are about real life things that frogs or bears or skunks do or could do. Unlike most books with animals as main characters where they learn to ride bikes, win the spelling bee at school etc. Beginning animal lore for young children. Or budding animal lovers.
If you miss any of these from your local library they are also on Gutenberg's free books site.
Personally I think that these should be re-released with new covers so kids will read them again.
The books themselves:
Danny Meadow Mouse: Danny gets upset because he has a short tail. He also gets caught by Hooty the Owl, who wants him for dinner.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: greed, anger, envy, kindness, friendship, look before you leap.
Grandfather Frog: He decides it's time for him to see more of the world. A little risk keeps life exciting. He has some exciting adventures before discovering 'there's no place like home'.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: greed, mischieviousness, thoughtlessness, patience.
Buster Bear: Buster moves to the Green woods. This doesn't please the other animals because he takes 'their' fish, and they are frightened of him. But when the animals find out that Farmer Brown's Boy is afraid of Buster, they look at him with new eyes...until they find out the next personality trait Buster shows.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: temper, new friends come to the neighborhood.
Old Mother West Wind: A group of stories with Mother West Wind or her Little Breezes helping the animals of the Meadow and forest. A couple of 'how the xxx got/ lost zzz' stories also that were quite entertaining.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: vanity, friendship, contentment, helpfulness.
Old Man Coyote: Something is making a new sound in the Green Meadows/ Green Forest. The animals don't know what it could be. When it is discovered who has moved in, Granny Fox is determined to oust them from HER feeding grounds. Granny is in for a surprise because this stranger isn't easy to fool.
Morals/ values/ lessons intertwined in the book: courage, resisting temptation, good planning.
January 31, 2011
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.)
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.)
November 15, 2017
Weer een kinderboekje uit de serie. Deze keer gaat het over Danny de veldmuis, die vele avonturen beleeft, en moet zien te ontsnappen aan de vossen, de uil en de havik. Ook zijn vriendje Peter Rabbit komt in een hachelijke situatie terecht.
March 20, 2023
Ediția românească este sub titlul: Aventurile lui Danny, șoricelul de câmp.
Această poveste pe capitole scurte, integrata în lumea animală a lui Throton Burgess i-a prins pe ambii băieți (mai ales pe cel de 5 ani dar și pe cel de 7).
Oferă câte ceva din variate bunătăți: aventură, cunoștințe despre comportamente ale animalelor pădurii/câmpului, lecții de caracter (fără a fi prea moralizatoare). Conține pe alocuri și morala în rime simpatice (ușor pierdute în traducere).
Această poveste pe capitole scurte, integrata în lumea animală a lui Throton Burgess i-a prins pe ambii băieți (mai ales pe cel de 5 ani dar și pe cel de 7).
Oferă câte ceva din variate bunătăți: aventură, cunoștințe despre comportamente ale animalelor pădurii/câmpului, lecții de caracter (fără a fi prea moralizatoare). Conține pe alocuri și morala în rime simpatice (ușor pierdute în traducere).
October 12, 2025
I'm using Thornton Burgess books as the gentle Science part of kindergarten with our five year old son. He loves them, laughing heartily when the animals are foiled and talking about habits of animals that he learned from these books. The writing is at times repetitive and a bit didactic, but Danny Meadow Mouse, Peter Rabbit, and Reddy Fox are just so fun!
June 11, 2019
I liked the part when Hooty the Owl grabbed onto Danny Meadow Mouse and Danny Meadow Mouse was struggling in Hooty the Owl's sharp claws.
August 31, 2014
I read this series when I was in Elementary school and back then I thought they were Shakespeare. I recently found these on Librivox and decided to download this one to my mp3 player. It was a dramatized version and I remembered nothing of the stories' plots at all, other than knowing they were about talking animals.
The characters are cute, and the format is perfect for bedtime stories, imagining someone reading a chapter a night. The repeat plot points from chapter to chapter so I'm sure that was the intention. They are a little moralizing, but not so much to distract from the story. The author foreshadows in a way that I knew exactly what would happen next.
Still I doubt I'll take another one just for myself as an adult. Most of my 'reading' seems to be audiobooks these days so we'll see.
The characters are cute, and the format is perfect for bedtime stories, imagining someone reading a chapter a night. The repeat plot points from chapter to chapter so I'm sure that was the intention. They are a little moralizing, but not so much to distract from the story. The author foreshadows in a way that I knew exactly what would happen next.
Still I doubt I'll take another one just for myself as an adult. Most of my 'reading' seems to be audiobooks these days so we'll see.
January 6, 2023
This is a book I read aloud as part of HOD curriculum with my little 6 year old. I love how Burgess stays so true to nature in the animal behaviors, struggles, and escapades! A cute chapter book with lots of good little lessons and morals! Sometimes can be a little cumbersome with so many details but overall great kids literature!
August 16, 2020
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This is a good little book with some excellent little lessons. It’s funny and easy to read, and with only a couple references of Old Mother Nature.
A Favourite Quote: “...singing is nothing in the world but happiness in the heart making itself heard.”
A Favourite Quote: “...singing is nothing in the world but happiness in the heart making itself heard.”
January 9, 2021
Cute story! Great read aloud with children! I read with my 6 year old son and he loved it. He didn't want to stop because he just had to know what happened next. The suspense is great. We have also read the adventures of Reddy fox which is part of this series!!!
September 14, 2021
These little books are nostalgic for me, as they were read to us in country school. The author created simple adventures for each featured animal. Burgess taught his readers by accurately presenting the habits of the animals.
July 9, 2024
I read this on vacation, it was a very quick read and very sweet! I plan to get all this author's other books. I can't believe how much I learned about animal life from this small, charming book. Thornton was a very good writer. Can't believe I haven't heard of him until now!
November 1, 2018
These books are charming. Of course, Thornton Burgess is from my area (my children actually went to Thornton Burgess School) so I have a soft spot for his books.
January 14, 2020
My kids and I love these books. The stories are engaging and an enjoyable way to learn about animals. We read it aloud and the kids kept begging for another chapter!
March 21, 2020
Cute story to read aloud. It had enough suspense to keep the kids and I interested.
September 14, 2020
This was my favorite Burgess book. The part where Danny runs through his tunnels in the snow was epic, or so my child mind thought. Every child should read these books.
October 11, 2020
My five yr old liked this book
My 5 year-old enjoyed this book and asked for more after reading it. So we will start another one by this author.
My 5 year-old enjoyed this book and asked for more after reading it. So we will start another one by this author.
February 25, 2022
Read for Gabriella's 1st grade reading.
June 28, 2022
A darling story with adventure and a very cute friendship <3 <3 <3
September 8, 2022
Loved it.
December 17, 2022
Reread
January 29, 2023
Really good bedtime stories
May 2, 2023
My 4 year sat through it in one sitting, even though there are hardly any pictures. Pretty good story
February 8, 2024
Such a cute story that reminded me of my childhood with a cup of hot tea, snow outside of my window, and life without adult obligations.)))
May 9, 2024
:) - 1915 Little Brown edition.
May 23, 2024
Great book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbFbZ...
December 15, 2024
Read as a child
April 19, 2025
Great children’s book!
September 20, 2025
"And so you see what temper does
For those who give it rein;
It cheats them of the very thing
They seek so hard to gain."
For those who give it rein;
It cheats them of the very thing
They seek so hard to gain."
August 6, 2023
This is one of the better Bedtime Story Books written by Thornton Burgess and illustrated by Harrison Cady. I have the entire series and have methodically gone through the novels, because I thought ten years was too long to keep something on my TBR. I really acquired them out of a sense of nostalgia that as I get older I seem to return to with ever-increasing frequency.
Here, Danny Meadow Mouse is finding the Green Meadow to be hazardous to his health. He loses a piece of his tail in traps set by Farmer Brown, gets chased by Granny Fox, and even captured by Hooty Owl. With the impending danger, suspense is built in such a way as to be compelling.
Incredibly, there are educational strategies and moral values communicated throughout the novel which enhance not just my enjoyment, but my children's as well. I think that the imminent danger in this and other books along with the amusing and memorable characters has kept my boys and other children returning to the Green Forest and Meadow. Also, the Harrison Cady illustrations add to the humor and beauty.
Here, Danny Meadow Mouse is finding the Green Meadow to be hazardous to his health. He loses a piece of his tail in traps set by Farmer Brown, gets chased by Granny Fox, and even captured by Hooty Owl. With the impending danger, suspense is built in such a way as to be compelling.
Incredibly, there are educational strategies and moral values communicated throughout the novel which enhance not just my enjoyment, but my children's as well. I think that the imminent danger in this and other books along with the amusing and memorable characters has kept my boys and other children returning to the Green Forest and Meadow. Also, the Harrison Cady illustrations add to the humor and beauty.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews