Publisher's Synopsis
These little books for little people tell of the adventures of the four-footed creatures of our American woods and fields in an amusing way which delights small two-footed human beings; and at the same time, in the shortcomings of the animal friends children are quick to recognize their own faults and to take home the obvious lessons.In this collection of stories you will find precisely the sort of healthy, imaginative entertainment that is an essential in stimulating children's minds. Whether read aloud to them or used as an early reader, children will delight in these tales while absorbing natural history and gaining a better understanding of animals and their nature, as well as learning something about human nature. Originally published as separate books, this volume collects the following: -The Tale of Timothy Turtle -The Tale of Benny the Badger -The Tale of Major Monkey -The Tale of Grumpy Weasel -The Tale of Grandfather Mole -The Tale of Master Meadow Mouse A WORD TO GROWN UPS To you;-parents, guardians, teachers and all others upon whom devolves the supremely important responsibility of directing the early years of development of childhood, these stories which sketch such vivid and delightful scenes of the vibrant life of meadow and woodland should have tremendous appeal. In this collection of stories you will find precisely the sort of healthy, imaginative entertainment that is an essential in stimulating thought germs in the child mind. Merely from the standpoint of their desirability for helping the growing tot to pass an idle half hour, any one of these volumes would be worth your while. But the author had something further than that in mind. He has, with simplicity and grace, worthy of high commendation, sought to convey a two-fold lesson throughout the entire series, the first based upon natural history and the second upon the elementary principles of living which should be made clear to every child at the earliest age of understanding. The first of these aims he has accomplished by adapting every one of his bird characters to its living counterpart in the realm of biology. The child learns very definite truths about which the story is woven; learns in such a fascinating manner that he will not quickly forget, and is brought into such pleasant intimacy that his immediate sympathy is aroused. The author accomplishes the purpose of driving home simple lessons on good conduct by attributing the many of the same traits of character to his feathered heroes and heroines that are to be found wherever the human race made its habitation. The praise-worthy qualities of courage, love, unselfishness, truth, industry, and humility are portrayed in the dealings of the field and forest folk and the consequential reward of these virtues is clearly shown; he also reveals the unhappy results of greed, jealousy, trickery and other character weaknesses. The effect is to impress indelibly upon the imagination of the child that certain deeds are their own desirable reward while certain others are much better left undone.
