22 • AUGUST 2016
The Splash
Author Spotlight
s s e g r u orton B
Th
Thornton grew up in Sandwich, MA. His father died shortly after he was born so he worked very hard as a young man. One of his jobs on Discovery Hill inspired many of his stories. After graduating from high school, he studied business at a college in Boston. What he really wanted to be was an author so he moved and took a job as an editorial assistant at a publishing company. He wrote stories under the pseudonym W.B. Thornton. His first book, Old Mother West Wind, was written in 1910. This book introduced many characters that the public would grow to love. Thornton was a conservationist and his love of nature heavily influenced his writing for the next 50 years. In total he wrote 170 books and 15,000 bedtime stories for his daily news column. From 1912-1960, he also broadcast on the radio. His programs were adored by educators and parents. For a spin on the pet rock, we painted rocks to He won several awards and was highly praised look like frogs. for his conservation efforts. He remained active in MATERIALS: both until his death at age 91. rocks paint paintbrush Old Mother West Wind 1910 ages 4-11 Sharpie for details (if you want) This is the book that started it all. Meet Old INSTRUCTIONS: Mother West Wind, her Merry Little Breezes and The most important thing when painting rocks is their animal neighbors that live in the Old Briar to find a smooth one, unless you are going to run Patch and by the Smiling Pool. It is written in it into a toad. You want rocks for this project that chapters that are the perfect size for a bedtime are pancake shaped. read. Start by washing your rock off outside and drying Mother West Wind’s Neighbors 1913 ages 4-11 it well so your paint will stick. Mother West Wind “Why” Stories 1915 ages 4-11 Paint the rock entirely with your main color. We’ve never read a Thornton Burgess book we When this is dry, add spots, stripes or speckles of didn’t love. All of his stories have talking aniyour choice. mals, morals that aren’t really thrown in your Finally add eyes, nostrils, mouth and any other face and are great for read aloud. There is an details that make you happy. Adventures of___ book for just about every character so pick your favorite and try one of For longevity spray your rock with a clear sealer. these too! Place for your enjoyment!
Make your own tribute to Grandfather Frog
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