Why Striped Chipmunk Is Proud of His Stripes

A tale retold from Mother West Wind "Why" Stories by Thornton W. Burgess

Thornton W. Burgess published the Mother West Wind stories in the early twentieth century, weaving gentle nature tales with moral lessons. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The tale explains why chipmunks wear stripes—not through science, but through story—and reminds readers that true kindness is often done in secret, asking nothing in return. The talking animals of the Green Meadows remain beloved for their clear voices and generous hearts.

Band

Yellow · Emerging readers, about 6 to 8

Length

medium · about 515 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Mother West Wind "Why" Stories, Thornton W. Burgess · Project Gutenberg

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (8 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Colouring page

Readers are engineered from the original public-domain text with AI under HummingRead’s published canon and Content Philosophy, checked by automated audit and sampled by a person. Pictures are made with AI to HummingRead’s brief for each story. How a reader is made.