What do you think?
Rate this book
Parables From Nature
"Parables from Nature" by Margaret Scott Gatty utilizes the Charlotte Mason method of instruction, which is preferred by many homeschooling families. "Parables from Nature" weaves interesting facts from nature and science into the stories. The collection includes all 29 stories from the first, second, third, and fourth series, originally published in separate volumes.The stories in "Parables from Nature" are challenging, rich and complex, as they seek to uncover God's craftsmanship in the natural world, how the seen teaches us about the unseen. This is a great book to glean ideas from and stretch the intellect, imagination and understanding. This is newly laid out with clear print and a readable font (not like the hard-to-read facsimile editions provided by some other publishers).
133 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1903
About the author
Mrs. Alfred Gatty
77 books3 followersSometimes published as Margaret Gatty, Margaret Scott Gatty.
Born in 1809 in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, Margaret Scott was the daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, D.D., a naval chaplain who served with Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar. She married the Rev. Alfred Gatty, a Church of England vicar, and an author, in 1839. Some of their children also published as authors: noted children's author Juliana Horatia Ewing; Juliana's biographer Horatia K.F. Gatty; composer and officer of arms Sir Alfred Scott-Gatty; historian Charles Tindal Gatty.
Born in 1809 in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, Margaret Scott was the daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, D.D., a naval chaplain who served with Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar. She married the Rev. Alfred Gatty, a Church of England vicar, and an author, in 1839. Some of their children also published as authors: noted children's author Juliana Horatia Ewing; Juliana's biographer Horatia K.F. Gatty; composer and officer of arms Sir Alfred Scott-Gatty; historian Charles Tindal Gatty.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 19, 2021
Just as sweet the second time around.
Read aloud to the kids for school over the course of 3 years. The author uses the order God created in nature to reveal lessons about our own hearts. We regularly refer to these beautiful stories when adventuring outside and we’ve been able to make many connections to our own lives. It was not an easy book to read aloud, but it was encouraging to see my progress grow throughout the book, as well as the comprehension of my little listeners!
Read aloud to the kids for school over the course of 3 years. The author uses the order God created in nature to reveal lessons about our own hearts. We regularly refer to these beautiful stories when adventuring outside and we’ve been able to make many connections to our own lives. It was not an easy book to read aloud, but it was encouraging to see my progress grow throughout the book, as well as the comprehension of my little listeners!
March 10, 2020
Such a lovely collection of stories. We had to grow into reading this one. It was a struggle when we first started but we read it very (very, very) slowly over the course of Ambleside online years 1-3.
It's kind of strange to finish it now. I'm interested to see how it will be as a reread in a few years when my son is old enough.
Finished the second time through and it was so much better this time. This is a book that we have to learn how to read. I cried through the entire final story.
It's kind of strange to finish it now. I'm interested to see how it will be as a reread in a few years when my son is old enough.
Finished the second time through and it was so much better this time. This is a book that we have to learn how to read. I cried through the entire final story.
May 2, 2022
Read aloud with oldest child for three years. The book shows numerous ways that God through his creation is able to speak to our hearts about our behavior and hearts affections. Most of the stories are wonderful illustrations that are immediately applicable. I wonder if this book was assigned more for the mother then the child?! I was moved and helped much in the reading of this book and the ordering of ones affections.
The only story I did not care for, and only because of its extreme length, was Inferior Animals.
The only story I did not care for, and only because of its extreme length, was Inferior Animals.
April 16, 2026
I just finished Parables of Nature with my second born. The last story..😭😭 I feel like that’s book is a book that is best read over and over. My eldest only remembered a couple stories, but often wants to sit in when I read it aloud to my secondborn. I think next year, when I start it over again with my thirdborn, I’ll do it as a morning time read so everyone can sit in.
May 22, 2026
We’ve been reading this for 3 years during our Morning Time. Some stories were more enjoyable than others. It is a helpful book for building muscles to be able to read and understand classic literature—the right amount of challenging for young elementary students.
“It is easy to boast while the sun still shines, ever so little; but it is not till the storm comes, that the mettle of principle is known”. - Daily Bread
“It is easy to boast while the sun still shines, ever so little; but it is not till the storm comes, that the mettle of principle is known”. - Daily Bread
November 4, 2009
I cannot say enough about Parables from Nature by Margaret Scott Gatty. What a treasure! Mrs. Gatty wrote with a wonderful prose style, and included many encouraging morals which are a joy to share with children. The stories , which seek to uncover God’s craftsmanship in the natural world, are challenging, rich and complex. The writing and vocabulary are quite sophisticated, making it best for children in third grade or higher. I find the book challenging and enjoyable as an adult. It's a great book to glean ideas from and stretch their intellect, imagination and understanding. It is a refreshing read and a book I’ll read more than one time, for sure. I would say be careful which edition you purchase. The book which I am reviewing was laid out very nicely (see the picture attached), but there are apparently some shoddy replicated versions out there.
June 5, 2012
Classical British educator Charlotte Mason recommended this book for her students. The language is rich and difficult for most children younger than 8 yrs of age. The depth of thought in this book is profound and worth reading aloud to your children and discussing together. It is a book that offers insight into the natural world, but the deeper spiritual issues embedded within are what give it special worth. I would give it a four if I could recommend every story in it, but some stories are just too out of date for readers today.
December 21, 2016
Not an easy read but worth it!
April 15, 2026
I'm usually one for old, even florid Victorian, writing styles, but this was a bit thick. Mrs. Gatty has an incredible imagination and some of the lessons she draws from nature are lovely and thought-provoking, but others are a complete stretch and much of it is Purple Prose Exhibit A:
"Gracious clouds! They were the Vapours of the Sea, which, after many wanderings, had found their way here, at last, on their
mission of love. And, lo! The sound of waters was heard once more on the dried-up hills, and sweet, heavy showers dropped down on the delighted earth. All night long it continued, and all night long
the earth was streaming tears of joy; and another day and another night succeeded, during which more or less of rain or dew continued to descend.
"Welcome, welcome, oh ye showers and dew!" were the Earth's first words; and, "Leave me now no more," her constant aftercry..."
Having swallowed 87 pages of this treacle pudding, (and gotten breathless reading aloud one or two to the kids) I'm satiated. Back to the shelf.
"Gracious clouds! They were the Vapours of the Sea, which, after many wanderings, had found their way here, at last, on their
mission of love. And, lo! The sound of waters was heard once more on the dried-up hills, and sweet, heavy showers dropped down on the delighted earth. All night long it continued, and all night long
the earth was streaming tears of joy; and another day and another night succeeded, during which more or less of rain or dew continued to descend.
"Welcome, welcome, oh ye showers and dew!" were the Earth's first words; and, "Leave me now no more," her constant aftercry..."
Having swallowed 87 pages of this treacle pudding, (and gotten breathless reading aloud one or two to the kids) I'm satiated. Back to the shelf.
June 10, 2025
What a beautiful book of parables for children inspired by nature!
February 21, 2019
While often wordy and a little hard to follow, this book is beautiful and filled with refining ideas, sweet encouragement, and strong undergirding for faith. It has been one of my favorites during our homeschooling experience, and I am always a little surprised, sometimes challenged, by the wisdom and depth of thought in each story.
Read
October 27, 2008I have a 1906, harback edition of this book. I love these stories. Some are a bit difficult for Jaimey to grasp but they bless ME each time we read them.
March 29, 2019
This book was very challenging for me to read aloud when I first began two years ago with my oldest son, and now reading it again with my next son I’m enjoying it more and more.
May 20, 2025
Wow, this took so long to get through. We ended up finishing the modernized edition. I would be curious to back to the Victorian edition again and read a second time with the younger kids. I have a love/hate relationship with this book. It gives food for thought, makes me cry with appropriate analogies at the right times, and is also obvious and annoying sometimes.
November 11, 2020
4.5 stars. Lovely book! I read it over the course of 3 years with William, and now I am starting it over again with Elliot and Loré (it is included in the Ambleside Online curriculum). The language is advanced, and I think it is one of the books that helps prepare kids for some of the more difficult language in consecutive Ambleside online years. I considered going with the paraphrase for our second time around, because of one of my kid’s particular struggles, but we tried it and it was just not the same.
There were times when I disagreed with the author’s theology, or did not fully understand it. But most of the stories are wonderfully told, and spoke straight to my heart. I cried, I repented, I commonplaced!
There were times when I disagreed with the author’s theology, or did not fully understand it. But most of the stories are wonderfully told, and spoke straight to my heart. I cried, I repented, I commonplaced!
July 7, 2017
This was a book we read slowly over three years. Or rather, we listened to the audio, as I could not bear to stumble through the archaic language & cadence any longer. Major respect to the narrators who read it fluently - the best ones had me riveted to my seat.
The title explains what this is - a collection of stories with a moral. But don't shudder when you hear "moral" - most are not heavy-handed or campy. A few - including the very first one - I wanted to skip. But taken all together they were sweet reminders of important truths.
My favorite parables were The Unknown Land, Cobwebs, Kicking, and Birds in the Nest.
The title explains what this is - a collection of stories with a moral. But don't shudder when you hear "moral" - most are not heavy-handed or campy. A few - including the very first one - I wanted to skip. But taken all together they were sweet reminders of important truths.
My favorite parables were The Unknown Land, Cobwebs, Kicking, and Birds in the Nest.
November 30, 2023
This book is lovingly crafted to capture the beauty of the Father’s principles in His creation.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” -Psalm 19:1-2
While dry in a few chapters, the consistent voice of the book and meaning behind it (especially in the chapters Kicking and The Unknown Land) are literally crying out the glory and wonder of the Lord!
“He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”” -Luke 19:40
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” -Psalm 19:1-2
While dry in a few chapters, the consistent voice of the book and meaning behind it (especially in the chapters Kicking and The Unknown Land) are literally crying out the glory and wonder of the Lord!
“He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”” -Luke 19:40
July 7, 2017
Lovely stories with morals using nature
As an adult, I found it beautiful and moving. It's a true treasure trove of wisdom to be found in the creation. However, I was reading this with my children as a part of our schooling, and some of my children could hardly stand it. I think it is a book you appreciate more as you have more experience with life.
As an adult, I found it beautiful and moving. It's a true treasure trove of wisdom to be found in the creation. However, I was reading this with my children as a part of our schooling, and some of my children could hardly stand it. I think it is a book you appreciate more as you have more experience with life.
January 3, 2022
We made it about halfway through. Some of the parables are very poignant and unexpectedly beautiful and I found myself bringing them up in various conversations. Others took a really long time to get to the point and in the end I found myself not even quite sure it was point worth making. On the whole, a mixed bag, but worth it for the good ones!
November 4, 2022
I read this book to my child over the last three years. It is used in the AmblesideOnline curriculum as one literature selection in years 1-3. My child, who is now 9 and of average intelligence, didn’t understand a lot of it. I enjoyed and appreciated most of the stories, but found some of them to be excessively long and wordy.
February 3, 2018
This took some time for us to enjoy (we read it halfway through a few years ago). But it has turned out to be one of the most delightful books we have ever read! We will return again and again to this!
December 12, 2023
What a sweet collection of nature’s parables. Creation certainly declares the glory of God! But do we take the time and have the patience to notice? These stories point us to truth seen through nature and I enjoyed them immensely!
Read
January 26, 2009The more I read, the more I'm loving this book! Beautiful, lovely stories to prepare a child's character. No twaddle here!
July 29, 2025
The rating is from me; I appreciated many of the stories' themes and the words chosen to convey certain truths. I underlined this book for my own benefit, though I did think it was unnecessarily long-winded in getting to its points.
For my kids, it would've been more of a two-star. They cheered when we finished this morning. "Boring," was one child's review. "They use the word 'expostulate' too much. Everyone is expostulating all over the place," was another child's. For my part, I think many of the morals were too advanced for them at the ages Ambleside recommends this book, and the natural history was also honestly a bit beyond them for several stories. I did appreciate the ability to practice narration, but even for the older kids, we had to stop after every couple paragraphs to make sure we were all still following. It was a slow process. We've been reading this book in segments for years, only finishing (finally) because of my determination/compulsion to complete 99% of books I start.
For my kids, it would've been more of a two-star. They cheered when we finished this morning. "Boring," was one child's review. "They use the word 'expostulate' too much. Everyone is expostulating all over the place," was another child's. For my part, I think many of the morals were too advanced for them at the ages Ambleside recommends this book, and the natural history was also honestly a bit beyond them for several stories. I did appreciate the ability to practice narration, but even for the older kids, we had to stop after every couple paragraphs to make sure we were all still following. It was a slow process. We've been reading this book in segments for years, only finishing (finally) because of my determination/compulsion to complete 99% of books I start.
June 2, 2026
AO mom review-
I hated this book. I’m so happy to be done with it. Each chapter is a new story. They are not bad. It’s not written poorly. The language is what I describe as “up in the clouds”. It’s just hard to track the meaning of each story. You will have to read multiple pages before getting enough actual details to be able to narrate from. For the attention span of a 1st-3rd grader, it’s hard. I trucked through thinking that reading hard things will stretch us and grow us. In a way, I agree with that sentiment, but it was unpleasant for 3 years.
In the end, I think most adults will be able to gather and decipher the morals of each chapter, but it will completely go over the heads of a child.
I will be switching to another book with my next kid.
I hated this book. I’m so happy to be done with it. Each chapter is a new story. They are not bad. It’s not written poorly. The language is what I describe as “up in the clouds”. It’s just hard to track the meaning of each story. You will have to read multiple pages before getting enough actual details to be able to narrate from. For the attention span of a 1st-3rd grader, it’s hard. I trucked through thinking that reading hard things will stretch us and grow us. In a way, I agree with that sentiment, but it was unpleasant for 3 years.
In the end, I think most adults will be able to gather and decipher the morals of each chapter, but it will completely go over the heads of a child.
I will be switching to another book with my next kid.
January 15, 2019
My 9 year old and I listened to this audiobook together. We liked how she integrated nature with life lessons and Scriptural references. The story about the bee who overheard humans talking about how there was only queen bee who was arbitrarily chosen while all the poor workers had to work, work, work. So, they all decided they’d all be queen bees, but things went badly until one of the older,wiser bees pointed out that this plan wasn’t a good one and explained how teamwork, leadership, and contentment.
Understand things better when I’ve had an example or parable about it and this book was full of that, plus had lots of nature lessons. Was a nature lesson plus Bible lesson.
Understand things better when I’ve had an example or parable about it and this book was full of that, plus had lots of nature lessons. Was a nature lesson plus Bible lesson.
Read
June 24, 2022It's a sweet old book, and we love nature stories and personification of animals. We bailed because the morals or applications were such a far stretch from the stories. It wasn't abundantly clear what one was offered to glean; maybe there was a lot of overthinking involved, but our discussion of each parable turned out to be very self contradictory and the kiddos frustrated themselves. Also, one of the kids couldn't keep engaged with bird parents dying after having finally recovered from the butterfly mom dying. We're do embrace nuance and multiple conclusions in our reading; this book wasn't really either and we just really missed out on general enjoyment and decided to move on.
June 18, 2023
We slowly worked our way through this one all through the school year. It's a collection of parables focused on the natural world, from bumblebees to raindrops. I've seen some complaints that the parables are incomprehensible, but overall, we didn't find them so. There were a couple that were challenging, but for the most part, the kids were able to understand and articulate what the parable was intending to teach.
It wasn't the girls' favorite Morning Time book, but it's one I certainly appreciated, and one I suspect will stick with them for longer than they imagine.
It wasn't the girls' favorite Morning Time book, but it's one I certainly appreciated, and one I suspect will stick with them for longer than they imagine.
November 2, 2022
As the title suggests, this is a collection of parables drawn from nature that illustrate Biblical wisdom. The parables are well-conceived, and do a good job of illustrating Biblical truth in a way that isn't campy. This a great resource for kids, although some of the language is antiquated, and I think at this point, my eight year old was the one who really understood the parables. Highly recommend!
March 11, 2023
I love this book. This book is a rare treasure. The spiritual meaning contained in it is very profound. But I found that the book required a lot of prep time. I'm going to develop a study guide for this. I would like to know some feedbacks first. Please help take one to two minutes to fill in this questionnaire. Thank you~
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I20C...
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I20C...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews