Thornton Burgess thrilled two generations of children with his delightful nature tales, publishing over 170 books, most of them illustrated by the great Harrison Cady, that featured an array of woodland creatures—some saintly, some personable, others cranky and haughty, some even naughty, but all fun (and not a single one dull)—in simple, well-written tales that always entertained and always taught a lesson about human nature. With an eye toward bringing wonderful stories to children in the earlier grades,
National Review has here collected the first ten of Burgess's "bedtime story" books.
Inside
The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories—brightened by some sixty of Cady’s drawings (reproduced just as they appeared in the original old books)—are ten terrific "adventure" tales of Reddy Fox, Johnny Chuck, Peter Cottontail, Unc' Billy Possum, Mistah Mocker, Jerry Muskrat, Danny Meadow Mouse, Grandfather Frog, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Sammy Jay, and the other colorful and lovable denizens of the "Green Meadows" and the "Briar Patch."
What They're Saying...
"Before having children I did not realize that it would be so much fun
to read them bedtime stories. It's no trouble finding picture books and
fairy tales for young children, but eloquent tales that can be read to
or read by older kids are harder to come by. These stories are just what parents need for children's joy and their own pleasure."
— Marvin Olasky, editor, World Magazine