Do you recall tales of Old Mother West Wind, Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Reddy Fox, Grandfather Frog, or Jerry Muskrat? For over 100 years, the animal books and stories of beloved children’s author Thornton W. Burgess have delighted millions of children and their parents; more than of half his seventy books remain in print today.

However, there was much more to Burgess, the man, than just a writer of children’s books: he was a dedicated naturalist who was honored by prestigious scientific institutions for his advocacy of wildlife and conservation practices that resonate today. His books, syndicated columns, and radio programs both entertained and educated children, introducing them to wildlife habitat, species extinction, and roadside litter.

In Nature’s Ambassador, Christie Lowrance explores Burgess’s life and legacy, from his Cape Cod childhood to the present. Christie will speak on Wednesday, May 18 in the Hunnewell Building at the Arnold Arboretum beginning at 7 pm. Free for Arboretum members, $5 for nonmembers.  Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.