This volume is designed to acquaint young readers with the larger groups, orders, and families of American mammals. Without confusing technical terms, the author covers typical representatives of field, wood, mountain, and desert, focusing on their habits, characteristics, and homes.
The book begins with Peter Rabbit, who has a narrow escape from Reddy Fox and learns from Jenny Wren that he has water-loving cousins he never knew. This sparks a series of lessons with Old Mother Nature, where Peter and his cousin Jumper the Hare learn about their own family, including the Marsh Rabbit and various hares.
As the lessons continue, other animals join the class, including Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Striped Chipmunk, and Johnny Chuck. Each lesson reveals surprising facts about the relationships between different species within the order of Rodents and other groups.
Readers learn about tree squirrels, ground squirrels, marmots, and prairie dogs, as well as unique creatures like the pika, the mountain beaver, and the porcupine. The text also covers clever engineers like Paddy the Beaver and famous swimmers like Jerry Muskrat, Billy Mink, and Little Joe Otter.
The book highlights the behaviors, diets, and defenses of various mammals, from the industrious pocket gopher to the cunning red fox and grey wolf. Throughout, the focus remains on building an intimate acquaintance with these animals and understanding their relations to each other and to man.
The work concludes by exploring the diverse mammalian life across North America, emphasizing the importance of preserving and protecting this priceless heritage for the future. The Burgess Animal Book for Children serves as an accessible introduction to zoology and the rich wild life of the United States and Canada.
