Subject
Donkeys -- Juvenile fiction Books
Best books
Sophie Ségur
The Story of a Donkey abridged from the French of Madame la comtesse de Ségur
"The Story of a Donkey" by Comtesse de Ségur is a novel written in 1860. Told as autobiography, it follows Cadichon, a learned donkey who recounts his life's adventures with wit and peasant wisdom. Escaping a cruel mistress, he encounters various masters—some kind, others not—and responds accordingly. He saves children from danger but also seeks revenge when wronged. Through his journey, Cadichon must learn that intelligence alone isn't enough; true happiness requires having a good heart.
P.-J. Stahl
A Butterfly Chase
"A Butterfly Chase" by P.-J. Stahl is a children's storybook written in the late 19th century. This charming narrative revolves around two young characters, Minnie and Bertie, who embark on a whimsical adventure to collect butterflies. Their journey highlights themes of curiosity, innocence, and the connection between children and nature. The story begins with Minnie and Bertie eagerly prepared with butterfly nets and a guidebook provided by their uncle, who is a professor. They venture into a daisy-filled meadow, hoping to capture beautiful butterflies, particularly peacock and emperor varieties. As they chase after these enchanting creatures, they face various mishaps and humorous moments, such as inadvertently falling into a ditch. Ultimately, when Bertie captures a butterfly, he is struck by its beauty and life; persuaded by Minnie, he decides against harming it. Their adventure concludes with feelings of joy as they learn the value of kindness towards all living beings, vowing never to chase butterflies again.
Amy Le Feuvre
Wij en ons ezeltje
"Wij en ons ezeltje" by Amy Le Feuvre is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story centers around a family consisting of several children who are dealing with the aftermath of their mother's death while their father, who serves as a vicar, grapples with the challenges of raising them in a new village. The driving force behind the children's antics is their determination to acquire an old donkey, leading them into various misadventures as they come up with plans to earn money. At the start of the narrative, the eldest daughter, Grietje, introduces her family and recounts their recent move to a village, marking a new beginning filled with both excitement and sorrow. She describes her siblings: the clever and mischievous Daan, the thoughtful Alex, the playful Lena, and the youngest, Puf, who adds comical moments with his innocence. The children bond over their shared goal of buying a donkey, leading to spirited debates and clever ideas about earning money. The opening lays the groundwork for a heartwarming exploration of family life, resilience, and the youthful desire for adventure.
Sophie Ségur
Les Mémoires d'un âne.
"Les Mémoires d'un âne" by comtesse de Sophie Ségur is a novel published in 1860. Written as an autobiography, it follows Cadichon, a "learned donkey" who recounts his adventures with various masters. Some treat him kindly, earning his loyalty and service—he even saves a child from fire. Others abuse him, prompting rebellion. Through his experiences, Cadichon learns that cleverness alone isn't enough; true happiness requires a good heart. The tale blends peasant wisdom with moral lessons about kindness and redemption.
Amy Le Feuvre
"Us, and our donkey"
"Us, and our donkey" by Amy Le Feuvre is a children's novel written in the late 19th century. Told by lively Grisel Marjoribanks, it follows a clergyman’s spirited children in a rural English village as they scheme to buy a donkey, tumble into scrapes, and absorb gentle Christian lessons. The cast includes practical Denys, dreamy Aylwin, mischievous Lynette, and earnest little Puff, with village life, churchgoing, and neighborly ties shaping their adventures. The opening of the story introduces the Marjoribanks family’s move to a Lincolnshire rectory after their mother’s death, their new house and garden, and the children’s plan to earn money for a donkey. Each tries a scheme: Lynette makes toffee for the village shop; Grisel secretly rides the carrier’s cart to market to sell flowers and vegetables (earning praise and a quiet rebuke from her father); Denys sells trout after an awkward brush with the squire’s private water; and Aylwin labors in the hayfields. Church life and the knight’s motto “Semper fidelis, semper paratus” frame the moral tone, while Lynette’s impulsiveness leads to a runaway-pony incident that results in new friendships with Clarice and Beatrice at the Hall. A Sunday sermon on “Come, Go, Do” nudges Denys to teach the infants’ class, and little Puff’s earnest prayers are “answered” when Granny sends money—bringing the donkey dream within reach.
Maysel Jenkinson
Beyond the hills
"Beyond the hills" by Maysel Jenkinson is a children's adventure novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows three siblings—Billy, Nancy, and Mavis—who, inspired by tales of Sir Walter Raleigh and Robert Louis Stevenson, slip away with their donkey Modestine to discover what lies beyond the river-hills. On the road they gain a new companion, the lonely Montague, and meet sympathetic adults, promising gentle, character-led adventures rather than high peril. The opening of the novel shows the children gazing across the Gleam toward the tantalizing hills, deciding to seek “the Unknown” with their rechristened donkey, Modestine. They depart at dawn, narrowly evade discovery by stern Great-Aunt Hewlett (who plies them with hot batch cakes), and breakfast while trespassing in a meadow, where a young landowner, Dick Frampton, indulges their enthusiasm by presiding over a playful “libation” to the God of Adventure; meanwhile, their worried parents search by car but miss them. The trio then meets Montague Francis de Vere, an unhappy boy chafing under a strict great-aunt, who eagerly joins after a hasty clean-up; with the help of a friendly ferryman’s son they cross the river, pass through a scattered village, cross the canal, and climb higher, pausing for a picnic and nap. Tired but elated, they head toward a nearby Priory to ask for lodging, where a genial, attentive man comes to the gate as the scene ends.
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