Thornton W. Burgess 
Blacky the Crow 

Thornton W. Burgess was an important and influential American conservationist and a prolific author of entertaining children’s stories. For over 50 years, Burgess published numerous popular books on the flora and fauna of the natural world and wrote a regular newspaper column called “Bedtime Stories”. Often affectionately referred to as the “Bedtime Story-Man”, Burgess celebrated his love for the natural world through humorous and educational stories for children in both his books and in his popular column. First published in 1922, “Blacky the Crow” is the engaging and clever story of a mischievous and curious young crow who often sees and does things he should not have. Tempted by the sight of two eggs left unattended in a nearby nest, Blacky hatches a plot to steal them and soon learns an important lesson on making bad choices. Burgess had a special ability to combine an educational story about the behaviors, habitats, and characteristics of the creatures of the natural world while also captivating audiences both young and old. This edition includes a biographical afterword and the original illustrations by Harrison Cady.