Thornton W. Burgess Books In Order

Publication Order of The Bedtime Story Books Books

Publication Order of Old Mother West Wind Books

Publication Order of Smiling Pool Books

Publication Order of The National Review Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories Books

Publication Order of Children's Books

Publication Order of Collections

Thornton Waldo Burgess was an outdoors and nature and children’s book author. Burgess prided himself as a conservationist, naturalist, and lover of nature and the animals that make their home in it which is why he wrote about it for more than five decades. By the time of his retirement, he had written more than 15, 000 short stories for newspaper columns and more than 170 books. Thornton was born to Thornton W Burgess senior (who was directly descended from one of the pioneer settlers of Sandwich Thomas Burgess) and Caroline F Haywood. His father died in 1874, the year he was born and he would be brought up by his mother who still lived in Sandwich. With no father in his life, Burgess spent much of his youthful life working eighty hours a day trying to earn a living. Some of the jobs he took during this time included trapping muskrats, tending cows, selling candy, picking berries or arbutus, and packing water lilies from ponds. He also worked for William C Chipman a man who had a home with a wildlife habitat of wetland and woodland on Discovery Hill Road. The habitat would later become the setting of many of the tales he would pen in his later career as an author.

Waldo Burgess graduated from Sandwich High School in 1891 before he went to Boston to attend Business College. For several months he lived in Boston and then upped and left to move to Springfield, Massachusetts. It was here that he would buy a home in Hampden which would become his home until he died in 1965. Nonetheless, Burgess would often go back to visit Sandwich which he claimed was his spiritual home and birthplace. He would still be influenced by the people and childhood experiences that included a concern and interest in the outdoors and wildlife. In 1910, he published his debut novel “Old Mother West Wind” in which he introduced some of his most popular characters that would recur in later stories and novels. Some of these characters included Peter Rabbit, Jimmy Skunk, Grandfather Frog, Reddy Fox, Merry Little Breezes, Sammy Jay, Old Mother West Wind, Spotty the Turtle among many others.

For the next five decades, Burgess wrote novels that would be published and translated across the world. His novels have been published in Italian, Swedish, Spanish, French, German, and obscure languages such as Gaelic. He wrote the novels alongside Harrison Cady of Rockport Massachusetts and New York who was the chief illustrator. He gave the world the familiar animal characters that are so recognizable today. Thornton Waldo Burgess was also involved in conservation endeavors and worked on several projects during his life that included wildlife protection programs through the Bedtime Stories Club, helping pass legislation to protect migrating wildlife and land conservation programs through The Green Meadow Club. Other efforts include The Radio Nature League broadcast and the Happy Jack Squirrel Saving Club. Given his efforts, Northeaster University granted him an honorary degree in 1938. For leading children on a path of the beautiful outdoors he was awarded the Permanent Wildlife Protection Fund awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal while he also got a special gold medal from the Boston Museum of Science. Burges published the autobiography “Now I Remember” in 1960 in which he recalled his early life in Sandwich in addition to the achievements in his writing career. As he turned 83, he had more than fifteen thousand stories to his name having been a syndicated columnist for the Bedtime Stories between 1912 and 1960.

Thornton W Burgess’s debut novel “The Adventures of Reddy Fox” is the story of Reddy Fox who steals a plump pet hen in broad daylight in a reckless show of arrogance. The stage is now set for a thrilling tale as Farmer Brown sends his boy to pursue the Fox with a Bowser the Hound and a loaded gun. But Reddy is lucky enough to have Granny Fox to help him and with some well time interventions from his good friends, he manages to avoid disaster. As the timeless story unfolds, children will love the commotion and risky antics that results in some interesting actions from Peter Rabbit, Johnny Chuck, Drummer the Woodpecker among other residents of the Green Forest. Burgess who is the author of the classic “Old Mother West Wind” and other highly regarded classics shows his prowess as one of the best storytellers of children’s stories. He manages to write enjoyable stories while still distilling important lessons to children. “The Adventures of Reddy Fox” that was first published in 1913 is one of the best he ever wrote. With its new easy to read newly reset large type, the Dover edition will be a joy for children just as it was for their grandparents years ago.

“The Adventures of Peter Cottontail” by Thornton W Burgess is a perfect book for a parent’s library. The story comes with a ton of adventures and human-like creatures that are very entertaining. Most children will love following the lives of the many forest friends that Burgess creates to immerse his young readers with an escape into nature. He writes in short chapters for his novels with most of the stories too being brief but with many pictures to help keep the attention of the children through visualization. From all the amusing animal antics, kids are sure to wonder about the many animals in their woods and gardens and what they might be up to when no one is looking. Just like with many other classics, there are lessons for children to learn such as not to be full of themselves or show off, to listen to elders, and to be careful. The latest editions still come with the original illustrations as done by Harrison Cady. Easy on the eye, they are clear and simple narratives and just what you want to relive your childhood or to read to your children.

Thornton W Burgess’s “The Adventures of Unc’ Billy Possum” is the story of poor Unc Billy. He has gone into Farmer Brown’s chicken coop as he is hungry and needs some eggs. But then the farmer gets wise to his tricks and sets traps while he is inside sleeping. He is now stuck inside the coop and snow has been falling and covering over the traps. Unable to see the traps, he is soon caught in one and Farmer Brown’s assistant soon locates him by following the tracks in the snow. The big lesson is that arrogance and greed will often result in downfall. It is a great introduction to the timelessness of love and the respect that animals need to have for each other to coexist peacefully.

2 Responses to “Thornton W. Burgess”

1. Debbie O'nion: 9 months ago

   thank you for your site

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   • Graeme: 9 months ago

     You’re welcome 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to say that.

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