Classic Novels Library

Happy Jack

Happy Jack

by Burgess, Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo), 1874-1965

BookID: 13355

Language:English

Illustrator:Cady, Harrison, 1877-1970

Reading Level:Reading ease score: 89.4 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Copyright Status:Public domain in the USA.

Squirrels -- Juvenile fictionForest animals -- Juvenile fiction

Description

"Happy Jack" by Thornton W. Burgess is a children's story written in the early 20th century that follows the adventures of Happy Jack Squirrel in the natural world. The book delves into the themes of greed, friendship, and self-discovery, primarily focusing on the titular character's experiences and interactions with other woodland creatures, including his cousin Chatterer the Red Squirrel and Striped Chipmunk. At the start of the narrative, Happy Jack is portrayed as a cheerful and somewhat greedy squirrel who discovers a bountiful tree filled with ripe hickory nuts. His desire to hoard the nuts leads to a comical confrontation with Chatterer, resulting in a quarrel between the two cousins. As they argue, they inadvertently knock the very nuts they sought after to the ground, involving Striped Chipmunk in their antics. This opening sequence establishes the tone of the book, highlighting Happy Jack's self-centeredness and the ensuing chaos that arises from it. The interplay of characters and their personalities sets the stage for the rest of the story, centered around themes of cooperation and the consequences of greed. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Class:PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres

Read Free