Books by Wilfrid S Bronson

Here, in a comprehensive, practical, and extremely readable volume, an author-artist whose many nature books are favorites with children gives an absorbing account of goats-the countries from which they came originally, the merits and characteristics of the major breeds, the reasons why they are especially valuable to us, and the methods of raising them for pets or for profit. He describes the most scientific way to house, feed, and care for either a herd of goats or for a single goat. In addition to practical information on raising goats, Mr. Bronson gives fascinating background material about them and their place in history. The reader discovers, for instance, that traces of some of the early legends and superstitions about goats are still to be found in our language today. From Pan, the half-goat god of the ancient Greeks who had the mischievous habit of startling travelers in lonely places, comes our word "panic." Then we learn that in pagan times communities would confess their sins annually to a goat, which was later allowed to escape to the wilderness, supposedly taking the sins with it; hence our word "scapegoat." In his simple, inimitable style, known to many readers through such books as "Cats," "Starlings," "Coyotes," "The Wonder World of Ants," "The Grasshopper Book," "Horns and Antlers," "The Chisel-Tooth Tribe," and "Turtles." Mr. Bronson provides a humorous and informative text, enhanced by detailed drawings on nearly every page.

Imported to the United States from Europe in 1890 and released in Central Park, New York City, to fight the growing number of insect pests at that time, the starlings quickly adapted themselves to the new climate. They are now at home almost everywhere. The starling is typical of many other birds, and this book with simple text is a wealth of birdlore. The marvel of streamline design and construction which is a bird's body-a design which has been copied to a great extent in building airplanes-is carefully explained. We follow the starling from nesting time, when the female busily sets the nest to rights, until the young ones are completely independent. As in "Pinto's Journey," "Turtles" and "Coyotes," also by Wilfrid Bronson and published by Sunstone Press, the text in this book for young readers is in large, clear type, and there are many illustrations on each page.

Pinto Goodluck, a little Indian boy, lived with his mother, his grandfather and his burro, Ambrosio. His grandfather made beautiful jewelry from silver and turquoise. He traded it with other Indians for corn and bread and vegetables. Sometimes he sold it to the tourists in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and bought sugar and salt and coffee. Then the Great War came and all the young men went away and the turquoise mines were closed. Grandfather knew of a secret mine but it was a long way off and the journey was full of danger. Grandfather was too old to go. There were steep mountains to climb and wild arroyos to cross. There were all sorts of fierce animals, mountain lion and bears and buzzards. Pinto was afraid of all these things, but he was a very brave little boy. He decided he would try to find the secret mine himself. One night when his mother and grandfather and everyone in the village was asleep, he took some pi├▒on nuts, three cold biscuits, a blanket and his bow and arrow and he and Ambrosio set out on the dangerous journey. How Pinto found the secret mine and brought home the turquoise is an absorbing adventure story for young readers.