The Adventures of Buster Bear
By Thornton W. Burgess
Published 1916
The Green Forest has a very big new neighbor! This book tells the story of Buster Bear as he arrives from the Great Mountains to live in the forest. Because he is so large, many of the smaller animals like Peter Rabbit and Chatterer the Red Squirrel are very frightened of him at first.
Buster Bear is not mean at all. He is actually quite jolly and likes to mind his own business. The story follows his adventures as he looks for berries, catches fish in the Laughing Brook, and tries to avoid Farmer Brown’s Boy. Through Buster’s eyes, we learn that being big does not mean you have to be a bully. We also see how the other animals learn to stop being afraid of him once they get to know him. It is a wonderful story about making room for everyone in the community.
Main Themes: Sharing, Respect, and Overcoming Fear
Nature & Character Connection
The Black Bear: A Gentle Giant
Buster Bear is an American Black Bear. In nature, these bears are very shy and usually prefer to stay away from people. They have thick fur and very strong claws that they use for climbing trees and digging for food. Even though they are big, they can run very fast and are great at swimming. Burgess shows us that Buster is an "omnivore," which means he eats many different things. He loves sweet berries and honey just as much as he likes a fresh fish from the brook.
The Winter Sleep: A Long Rest
In the story, Buster has to find a safe place to sleep when the weather gets cold. In the real world, bears go through something called "torpor" or a deep sleep during the winter. They eat a lot of food in the fall to get fat and stay warm. This helps students understand how animals survive when the ground is covered in snow and there is no food to find. It shows that nature has a special plan for every animal to stay safe throughout the year.
Sharing the Forest: The Law of the Wild
Buster Bear is the king of the Green Forest because he is the largest animal there. However, he has to learn to share the best fishing spots and berry patches with others. In nature, animals have "territories" where they live and find food. Sometimes they have to compete with each other. The story uses Buster and Joe Otter to show how animals can be rivals for food but still live in the same forest together.
Simple Activity Ideas
The Berry Pickers: Give students a pair of mittens to wear and ask them to pick up small objects like beads or pom-poms. This shows how hard it is for a big bear with large paws to pick tiny berries!
A Bear's Hibernation Den: Use blankets and chairs to build a "den" in the classroom. Discuss what a bear might need to stay warm and cozy all winter long.
Nature Walk for Signs: Go outside and look for "signs" of animals. Look for scratches on tree bark or flattened grass where a large animal might have rested.
Discussion Prompts
On First Impressions: Why were the other animals afraid of Buster Bear when they first saw him? Was it fair to be afraid before they met him?
On Being a Neighbor: What can Buster Bear do to be a good neighbor to the smaller animals like the squirrels and rabbits?
On Food: Buster loves to eat! If you were a bear in the Green Forest, what would be your favorite treat to find?
Morals & Values Learned
Don't Judge by Size: We learn that just because someone is big and strong, it does not mean they are mean or scary.
Respect for Others: Every animal in the forest has a right to be there and find food for their family.
Mind Your Manners: Buster is often very polite. He shows us that being kind is the best way to make new friends in a new place.
Overcoming Fear: The smaller animals show us that we can overcome our fears by learning more about the things that scare us.
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.
