The Tale of Bobby Bobolink / Tuck-me-In Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21412

Title

The Tale of Bobby Bobolink / Tuck-me-In Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Arthur Scott Bailey's charming children's tale follows the spirited Bobby Bobolink as he arrives in Pleasant Valley, befriends a shy new wife, and navigates neighborhood antics involving a jealous crow, a trickster catbird, and a hermit thrush who warns him of the dangers of his own exuberant singing.

Summary up to 500 words

In Arthur Scott Bailey's whimsical narrative, the feathered residents of Pleasant Valley eagerly await the return of Bobby Bobolink from the South. Renowned for his rollicking song and cheerful disposition, Bobby quickly wins the heart of a shy female Bobolink through lively serenades that confuse the neighborhood gossip, Jasper Jay. Once secured, their domestic life brings new challenges, particularly when a curious young robin, Johnnie Green, wanders too close to the nest. Bobby cleverly distracts the intruder, saving his family from potential harm. The story is populated by eccentric characters who add humor and gentle suspense to the tale. Mr. Crow, a spiteful bird, is jealous of Bobby's fame and constantly seeks to undermine him. Mr. Catbird, a prankster, attempts to mimic Bobby's song but fails miserably, frightening Mrs. Bobolink until he reveals himself and apologizes. Another neighbor, Timothy Turtle, becomes so annoyed by Bobby's non-stop singing that he drowns himself in the swamp. A quiet Hermit Thrush warns Bobby that his frenzied singing style could cause him to explode into a cloud of feathers. This fear briefly dampens Bobby's spirits, but he ultimately proves the warning unfounded by continuing to sing joyfully. The narrative concludes with a dispute between Mr. Crow and Jasper Jay regarding Bobby's flying abilities, which they plan to settle with a race against the sleepy Benjamin Bat. Throughout the story, Bailey captures the whimsical nature of bird life, blending humor, affectionate characterizations, and a lighthearted tone to create an engaging story for young readers that celebrates the joys and absurdities of community life.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21412.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21412.epub

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Categories

• Animals
• Friendship
• Birds