The Adventures of Bobby Raccoon
By Thornton W. Burgess
Published 1918
Deep in the Green Forest, Bobby Coon is known for his bright eyes, his ringed tail, and his insatiable curiosity. This story follows Bobby as his inquisitive nature gets him into (and out of) plenty of trouble. From a frightening encounter with a hollow tree and a "Man with a Gun" to his search for a new home, Bobby’s journey is one of growth and survival.
The plot centers on Bobby’s realization that his actions have consequences. After his home tree is cut down, Bobby must find a way to adapt to a changing environment. Along the way, he interacts with characters like Buster Bear and Farmer Brown’s Boy, eventually learning that while curiosity is a gift, it must be tempered with wisdom and caution. It is a classic tale of resilience, showing how even when we lose our "home base," we can find the strength to start over.
Main Themes: Adaptability, Curiosity, and Consequences
Nature & Character Connection
Bobby Coon: The Sensitive Explorer
Raccoons are famous for their "hands"—front paws that are incredibly sensitive and dexterous. In nature, a raccoon uses its paws to "see" its food, often touching it underwater to gather sensory information (a behavior called dousing). Thornton Burgess translates this into Bobby’s character by making him the most "touch-oriented" animal in the forest. Bobby is always poking his nose and paws into hollow logs and crevices. This reflects the real-life raccoon’s role as an opportunistic forager who uses intelligence and physical skill to find food where others cannot.
The Masked Bandit: Nighttime Vision
The black "mask" around a raccoon's eyes isn't just for show; in the wild, it helps reduce glare and enhances night vision, much like the black streaks athletes wear under their eyes. Because Bobby is nocturnal, he is most active when the rest of the forest is sleeping. Burgess uses this to show the different "shifts" of the Green Forest. Bobby’s adventures often happen in the moonlight, highlighting how he sees a world that Peter Rabbit or Danny Meadow Mouse might completely miss during the day.
The Hollow Tree: The Importance of Habitat
In the story, Bobby’s life is turned upside down when his "house" (a hollow tree) is destroyed. In nature, raccoons are "cavity nesters," meaning they rely on old-growth trees with hollow centers for safety and warmth. This part of the book teaches a critical lesson about conservation: when a single old tree falls, an animal loses its entire world. Bobby’s struggle to find a new "sleeping place" illustrates the real-world challenge animals face when their habitats are changed by humans or storms.
Simple Activity Ideas
The "Mystery Bag" Challenge: To mimic how Bobby uses his paws to "see," place several household objects in a dark bag. Have students reach in and try to identify the objects using only their sense of touch—no peeking!
Night-Eye Experiment: In a safely darkened room, use a dim flashlight to see how "shiny" objects appear. Discuss how Bobby’s eyes are designed to catch every tiny bit of light in the Green Forest at night.
Home Search: Take a walk and look for "cavities" or hollows in trees, under rocks, or in logs. Discuss which ones would make a good home for an animal like Bobby and why.
Discussion Prompts
On Curiosity: Bobby gets into trouble because he wants to know what is inside things. When is curiosity a good thing, and when can it be dangerous?
On Moving On: How did Bobby feel when his tree was cut down? Have you ever had to move to a new place or start something over? How did you handle it?
On the "Mask": Why do you think people call raccoons "bandits"? Does Bobby act like a bandit in the story, or is he just trying to find a snack?
Morals & Values Learned
Resilience: Bobby shows us that even when we lose something important, we can be "sturdy" and find a new path.
Respect for Habitat: We learn that old trees and quiet corners of the woods are more than just scenery—they are homes.
The Weight of Choices: Bobby’s adventures remind us that we are responsible for the places we go and the things we poke our noses into!
Public Domain Notice: The original text of this book is in the public domain. Site layout, study guides, and supplemental materials are © burgess-books.com.
