The Burgess Bird Book for Children
By Thornton W. Burgess
Published 1919
In this book, Peter Rabbit becomes curious about the many feathered friends that visit the Green Pastures. He realizes that while he knows much about the animals on the ground, he knows very little about the creatures in the sky. To learn more, he visits Old Mother Nature once again.
Throughout the spring and summer, Peter meets dozens of different birds as they arrive from the South. He learns about their colorful feathers, their different types of nests, and the beautiful songs they sing. From tiny Jenny Wren to the big Blue Jay, each bird has a unique personality and a special job to do. This book helps children see birds not just as animals, but as little people of the air with busy lives and families of their own.
Main Themes: Wonder, Observation, and Music
Nature & Character Connection
The Magic of Migration: The Great Travelers
Many of the birds Peter meets are just arriving after a long trip. In the real world, we call this migration. Some birds fly thousands of miles twice a year to find food and warm weather. Burgess explains this as the birds "coming home" to the Green Forest. It teaches students that birds are very strong and brave travelers. They follow special paths in the sky to find their way back to the same bushes and trees every single year.
Beaks and Feet: Nature’s Special Tools
Peter notices that every bird has a different kind of beak. Old Mother Nature explains that these beaks are like tools. A woodpecker has a beak like a chisel to find bugs in wood. A hawk has a beak like a hook. In science, we call these adaptations. The story shows that a bird’s body is perfectly designed for the food it eats and the place where it lives. This helps children understand that every part of a bird has a very important purpose.
Building a Home: The Many Kinds of Nests
Each bird Peter meets builds a different kind of house. Some use mud, some use sticks, and some even use spider webs or hair. In nature, birds are master builders. They choose their materials carefully to keep their eggs safe and warm. This part of the book teaches students about the care and hard work that goes into making a home. It encourages them to look closely at the trees and bushes to see the amazing architecture of the birds.
Simple Activity Ideas
Be a Nest Builder: Go outside and gather natural items like dry grass, twigs, and mud. Try to build a small nest that could hold a "blue jay egg" (a small stone). Discuss how hard it is to build without using hands!
Feather Focus: If you can find a fallen feather, look at it under a magnifying glass. See how the little parts of the feather zip together to keep the bird dry and help it fly.
Bird Song Listening: Sit quietly for three minutes and count how many different bird sounds you hear. Try to describe the sounds as Burgess does, like "cheery-up" or "sweet-sweet-sweet."
Discussion Prompts
On Travel: If you were a bird, would you like to fly a long way to a warm place for the winter? Why or why not?
On Colors: Why do you think some birds are very bright like the Cardinal, while others are brown like the Sparrow?
On Protecting Friends: How can we help make our backyards a safe place for the birds Peter meets?
Morals & Values Learned
Appreciation for Beauty: We learn to stop and notice the color and music that birds bring to our lives every day.
Hard Work: The birds show us that building a home and caring for a family takes a lot of effort and patience.
Kindness to the Small: Peter learns that even the tiniest bird is important and has a big heart.
Curiosity: The world is full of wonders if we are willing to look up at the sky and ask questions.
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.
