Thornton Waldo Burgess (January 17, 1874 - June 5, 1965) was an American conservationist and author of children's stories. Burgess loved the beauty of nature and its living creatures so much that he wrote about them for 50 years in books and his newspaper column, Bedtime Stories. He was sometimes known as the Bedtime Story-Man. By the time he retired, he had written more than 170 books and 15,000 stories for the daily newspaper column. Burgess was the son of Caroline F. Haywood and Thornton W. Burgess Sr., a direct descendant of Thomas Burgess, one of the first Sandwich settlers in 1637. Thornton, Sr., died the same year his son was born, and the young Thornton, Jr. was brought up by his mother in Sandwich. They lived in humble circumstances.

When Grandfather Frog sets out to see the Great World, he discovers it is a dangerous place and is happy to return to the Smiling Pool.

The Adventures of Grandfather Frog By Thornton W. Burgess

Chronicles the adventures of Grandfather Frog and his animal friends.

When Grandfather Frog sets out to see the Great World, he discovers it is a dangerous place and is happy to return to the Smiling Pool.

STORIES: Billy Mink Finds Little Joe Otter Longlegs The Blue Heron Receives Callers Longlegs Visits The Smiling Pool The Patience Of Longlegs The Blue Heron Grandfather Frog Jumps Just In Time Longlegs And Whitetail Quarrel Grandfather Frog's Big Mouth Gets Him In Trouble Spotty The Turtle Plays Doctor Old Mr. Toad Visits Grandfather Frog Grandfather Frog Starts Out To See The Great World Grandfather Frog Is Stubborn Grandfather Frog Keeps On Danny Meadow Mouse Feels Responsible Grandfather Frog Has A Strange Ride Grandfather Frog Gives Up Hope The Merry Little Breezes Work Hard Striped Chipmunk Cuts The String Grandfather Frog Hurries Away Grandfather Frog Jumps Into More Trouble Grandfather Frog Loses Heart The Merry Little Breezes Try To Comfort Grandfather Frog Grandfather Frog's Troubles Grow The Dear Old Smiling Pool Once More Billy Mink ran around the edge of the Smiling Pool and turned down by the Laughing Brook. His eyes twinkled with mischief, and he hurried as only Billy can. As he passed Jerry Muskrat's house, Jerry saw him. "Hi, Billy Mink! Where are you going in such a hurry this fine morning?" he called. "To find Little Joe Otter. Have you seen anything of him?" replied Billy. "No," said Jerry. "He's probably down to the Big River fishing. I heard him say last night that he was going." "Thanks," said Billy Mink, and without waiting to say more he was off like a little brown flash. Jerry watched him out of sight. "Hump!" exclaimed Jerry. "Billy Mink is in a terrible hurry this morning. Now I wonder what he is so anxious to find Little Joe Otter for. When they get their heads together, it is usually for some mischief." Jerry climbed to the top of his house and looked over the Smiling Pool in the direction from which Billy Mink had just come. Almost at once he saw Grandfather Frog fast asleep on his big green lily-pad. The legs of a foolish green fly were sticking out of one corner of his big mouth. Jerry couldn't help laughing, for Grandfather Frog certainly did look funny. "He's had a good breakfast this morning, and his full stomach has made him sleepy," thought Jerry. "But he's getting careless in his old age. He certainly is getting careless. The idea of going to sleep right out in plain sight like that!" Suddenly a new thought popped into his head. "Billy Mink saw him, and that is why he is so anxious to find Little Joe Otter. He is planning to play some trick on Grandfather Frog as sure as pollywogs have tails!" exclaimed Jerry. Then his eyes began to twinkle as he added: "I think I'll have some fun myself."

Book Excerpt: ave seen him move, he drew his long neck down until his head rested on his shoulders. "I guess I must wait until he falls sound asleep again," said Longlegs to himself. But Grandfather Frog didn't go to sleep. He would nod and nod and then, just when Longlegs would make up his mind that this time he really was asleep, open would pop Grandfather Frog's eyes. So all the long morning Longlegs stood on one foot without moving, watching and waiting and growing hungrier and hungrier, and all the long morning Grandfather Frog sat on his big green lily-pad, pretending that he was oh, so sleepy, and all the time having such a comfortable sun-bath and rest, for very early he had had a good breakfast of foolish green flies. Over in the bulrushes on the other side of the Smiling Pool two little scamps in brown bathing suits waited and watched for the great fright they had planned for Grandfather Frog, when they had sent Longlegs to try to catch him. They were Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter. At first Read More

Children's Bedtime Story: GRANDFATHER FROG STAYS IN THE SMILING POOL - Thornton Burgess - A Vintage Collection Edition Paddy the Beaver has not been seen all summer long! But someone heard him say last spring he was going to make a new pool further up stream. And now the water level in the Smiling Pool has suddenly dropped! Venture within and follow the furry animal creatures of the Green Forest as they search for the answer. A wonderful adventure by Naturalist, Thornton Burgess with illustrations by Harrison Cady. Originally a short cartoon story, makes this ideal for a single bedtime adventure. Chosen from the Vintage Collection of author, R.F. Gilmor, for a new generation of young readers and for little hands to hold and to love.