Here, by the champion nature story-teller of all time, are twenty-six new stories, each concerned with how an animal, or plant, makes the most of its environment. Two city children, for the first time in country surroundings, observe unheard-of things, led on by their young naturalist cousin and an Uncle Ben who has a strong resemblance to the author of this book.

Do chipmunks reason? When does a plant eat an insect? Where is a woodchuck's back door? How does Mr. Toad change his suit, and who is his worst enemy? Which snake is a perfect actor? The answers to these and dozens of similar questions are in this book. So is the inspiration to observe for yourself, to find out all you can about the interplay of character among the inhabitants of yard and roadside, pond and stream, field and forest.

From the dust jacket