An excellent collection of stories for children; ageless both in its lessons and characters.
Plot
This sequel to Burgess' "Old Mother West Wind" is a collection of stories surrounding the anthropomorphized animals living in the Green Meadows. It includes such stories as how Peter Rabbit got long ears, why Danny Meadow Mouse has such a short tail, and why Reddy Fox the trickster has no friends.
Morality
Even though this book is only a collection of animal stories, the morality is extremely good. The animals who are selfish, cruel, or exhibit other immoral behavior - like Reddy Fox - are punished by Mother Nature or Old Mother West Wind. The Merry Little Breezes play little pranks on some of the other animals, but nothing mean-spirited.
Spiritual Content
Practically none; the stories all have morals, but no spiritual content either good or bad. Though Mother Nature is looked up to and honored, she is never specifically worshiped.
Violence
Johnny Chuck gets into a fight with Reddy Fox when the latter is found bullying Peter Rabbit's baby brother, but the fight is purely honorable on Johnny Chuck's side.
Drug and Alcohol Content
None.
Sexual Content
None.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None. At most, the Merry Little Breezes will fling a teasing remark at someone, but nothing vulgar.
Conclusion
This is one of the sweetest stories of my childhood. I never got tired of reading the stories, even after I had outgrown the intended age of the story. This is a book that I would like to read to my own children someday. The morals are wonderful, the stories funny and clean, and each character - even Reddy Fox - comes alive in the pages. It is a book that any parent can let their child read without thinking twice about it.
Note: Though this book has a series in which it can be read ("Mother West Wind"), there is no particular order in which the stories must be read. The other books in the series are "Mother West Wind," "Mother West Wind's Neighbors," and "Mother West Wind's Animal Friends."
This review is brought to you by Jeanne.
