These are more "why" stories that describe animal traits in a fanciful manner. The bear hibernates as punishment for being a mean-spirited glutton, the rabbit has long ears so others will know he's an eavesdropper and a gossip and so on. I think my favorite was the one about why the toad swallows his old coat -it was a little closer to actual nature. Through most of these stories Grandfather Frog is the one who holds knowledge, he will share his stories with eager listeners if given a little respect and a gift of fat green flies to eat. The wind and breezes are personified, and there were a few forest characters I didn't quite recognize (I think this is one of Burgess' earlier works). I haven't read any Burgess in a while, and this doesn't quite live up to what I remember enjoying. But it was still nice.

from the Dogear Diary ( )

Thornton Burgess was born in 1874 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. While growing up he frequently roamed the fields, woods, and salt marshes of Cape Cod, where he came to know the birds, animals, and plant life well. Later, as a grown man, he told stories to his young son about the animals and wildlife he knew and loved. These stories were collected in Old Mother West Wind , the first of over seventy books for Mr. Burgess. Now, seventy-five years after Old Mother West Wind was first published, another book in the popular series is being reissued in paperback for another generation of children to enjoy. Mother West Wind's Children is a collection of "why" stories--why is Danny Meadow Mouses's tail so short? why are Peter Rabbit's ears so long? Harrison Cady's classic illustrations of these favorite Burgess characters help make this a welcome companion volume to Old Mother West Wind and Mother West Wind's Neighbors.

This copy was my father's when he was a boy. I have found memories of reading it with him when I was a girl. I know enjoy reading it to my children- they love it! ( )