Bowser the Hound
By Thornton W. Burgess
Published 1920
Bowser the Hound is the faithful companion of Farmer Brown's Boy. He has a wonderful nose, a great booming voice, and a determination that is hard to match. Once Bowser finds an interesting trail, he becomes so focused on following it that he sometimes forgets to pay attention to everything else around him.
One day, Old Man Coyote uses Bowser's love of the chase to lead him far away from home. Suddenly finding himself in unfamiliar country, Bowser must face hunger, loneliness, and the challenge of finding his way back to Farmer Brown's. Fortunately, he also discovers kindness in unexpected places, and Blacky the Crow becomes determined to help his old friend.
Bowser the Hound is a story about loyalty, perseverance, and the importance of helping a friend in trouble. Through all of his difficulties, Bowser's love for home and Farmer Brown's Boy never changes, reminding readers that determination and a little help from others can carry us through even the toughest situations.
Main Themes: Loyalty, Persistence, and Friendship
Nature & Character Connection
The Nose of a Hound: A Super Sense
Bowser is a hound dog, which means his sense of smell is much stronger than ours. In the real world, dogs like Bowser have millions of tiny scent sensors in their noses. This allows them to follow a "trail" even if it is several hours old. Burgess describes Bowser’s nose as his most important tool. He uses it to "see" the world in a way that Peter Rabbit or the birds cannot. This teaches children how different animals use their senses to understand their surroundings.
The Voice of the Hound: Communicating from Afar
In the story, Bowser has a very deep and loud "bay" or bark. Hounds use this loud voice to tell their owners where they are when they are deep in the woods. In nature, this is a form of long-distance communication. When Bowser bays, it lets Farmer Brown’s Boy know that Bowser is safe and still working. This helps students learn about how animals use sound to stay connected to their families and groups.
Old Man Coyote: The Clever Rival
Old Man Coyote is the one who leads Bowser away from home. Coyotes are members of the dog family, but they are very different from house dogs. They are famous for being "tricksters" because they are very smart and sneaky. In the wild, coyotes use their wits to find food and stay safe. The relationship between Bowser and Old Man Coyote shows the difference between a dog that is loyal to humans and a wild animal that must rely entirely on its own cleverness to survive.
Simple Activity Ideas
Scent Trail Game: Hide a smelly object like an orange peel or a cinnamon stick in the room while students have their eyes closed. Have them see if they can find it using only their noses just like Bowser does!
The "Home" Map: Draw a simple map showing Bowser's journey from the Farmer’s house to the far-off woods. Use stickers or marks to show the places where he felt lost and where he found help.
Voice Matching: Use a recorder to play different animal sounds. Ask the students to pick out which one sounds the most like a big, loud hound dog.
Discussion Prompts
On Being Lost: How do you think Bowser felt when he realized he didn't know the way home? What should you do if you ever feel lost?
On Loyalty: Bowser is very loyal to Farmer Brown’s Boy. What does it mean to be a loyal friend?
On Determination: Bowser keeps going even when he is tired. Why is it important to keep trying when something is difficult?
Morals & Values Learned
Trustworthiness: Bowser always does what he is supposed to do, which makes him a dog that everyone can trust.
Forgiveness: Even though Old Man Coyote tricked him, Bowser doesn't stay angry forever. He learns to focus on getting home instead.
Hard Work: We learn that some goals take a long time to reach, but we can get there if we take one step at a time.
Appreciation for Pets: This story reminds us of the special bond between people and their animal companions.
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.
