Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse (Dover Children's Thrift Classics)

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Folks,

You have to get ahold of Thorton Burgess Bedtime Story Books. If you're searching for traditional values reading for your youngster, these are the ones. They're written around the turn of the century, (the one we're finishing) and are just good, clean fun. The reading level of these books is pushing 2nd grade if you're youngster is above average, but 3rd graders get the most from them. I read the full 20 volume set (hardcover) and it accelerated my reading comprehension, and my vocabulary three grades beyond my peers because the stories were interesting and very well written. Try them out and you won't be disappointed. Happy reading. A big Thorton Burgess fan.

I grew up in a small New England town and read almost every book in the children's section of the library, though none of the books I read stand out in my memory like the books by Burgess. I have never, in all my 40 years, met another person who has read these books. I would like to encourage all to read his books. They are delightful stories with something for everyone.

This story is about Danny Meadow Mouse, a timid and clever forest critter who uses his wits to outmaneuver multiple predators, and to help his friend, Peter Rabbit, out of trouble. The book has several descriptive illustrations and poetry that help explain the short 2-4 page chapters that make for great bedtime readings for youngsters; another classic by Burgess.

The tale starts out with Danny moping around on account of having a short tale. The wise Mr. Toad teaches Danny the follies of being sorry for oneself, and to be appreciative of what one has; a valuable lesson for anybody. Danny realizes the wisdom of Mr. Toad's words and soon puts his petty worry behind him as he takes on a more pressing concern: staying away from Reddy and Granny Fox. He succeeds, and has much fun fooling them, but then Danny is caught by Hooty the Owl, and just barely escapes him; but does end up injured. His friend, Peter Rabbit, helps nurse Danny back to health, and then when Peter himself gets injured, Danny returns the kindness to Peter and helps him get better. Danny then has one last run in with Reddy Fox, in which Danny manages to evade capture again, much to the disappointment of Reddy.

As with all of Thornton Burgess' children's tales on the animals of the Green Forest and Green Meadows areas, this book helps instill valuable life lessons into its readers' hearts. Its lessons on nature are also very interesting, and presented in a way that kids will enjoy. I hope you give the book a try.

Darien Summers, author of The Mischievous Hare, a children's book.

This review applies to the edition published by Dover. Unfortunately all reviews show up under all editions, regardless of publisher.

This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. However, the prospective buyer should be informed that the illustrations in this Dover edition are NOT by the original illustrator, Harrison Cady. Instead, they are crude redrawings by another artist, Thea Kliros. Although they are better than the illustrations in the Dover titles for which artist Pat Stewart did the crude redrawings, they are not as charming as Cady's work.

Some of the other titles in this Dover series of Thornton Burgess books do have original Harrison Cady illustrations.

To get real Harrison Cady illustrations of this title, you'll have to buy a used book. There were three sets of original Harrison Cady illustrations for this title:
-- Published by Little, Brown, with 6 full-page grayscale illustrations.
-- Published by Little, Brown, with 8 full-page color illustrations.
-- Published by Grosset & Dunlap, with 14 full-page B&W line drawings, including line-drawing versions of all 6 original grayscale illustrations in the Little, Brown editions, plus many smaller line drawings.

The redrawings in this Dover edition are of the 6 grayscale Little, Brown illustrations.

On the other hand, the cover illustration is one of only four special paintings Cady did of Burgess animals. As far as I know, the four Dover titles that have them are the first editions to use them. The price of the book is worth it for that cover alone.

I recommend the Grosset & Dunlap edition. Cady did them decades after he did the 6 grayscale Little, Brown illustrations, after he had grown as an artist. Even though the Grosset & Dunlap line drawings are simpler than the Little, Brown grayscale illustrations, they are more charming. On the other hand, the Little, Brown grayscale illustrations better show Cady's remarkable vision for Burgess' creatures, so if you can get both, that's ideal. But either one is better than the drawings in this Dover edition.

The Little, Brown edition with the 8 full-page color illustrations was done about the same time as the Grosset & Dunlap drawings, but it is not a well-made book, and is not as enjoyable to hold and read as the Grosset & Dunlap.