Howdy Folks, I found the March, 1953 issue of Children’s Activities and it contained the very FIRST episode of Jimmie Acorn. It was created by Edith Forbush and illustrated by Ruth Van Tellingen, featuring Jimmie’s Forest Friends “Downy” Woodpecker and “Thumpy” Rabbit et famille. The main way you can tell this is the first story in the series, is that the origin of Jimmie is told in the first two paragraphs without the italics, and that a boy named “Peter” was Jimmie’s creator. “Peter” isn’t mentioned after this first episode. I like the unblinking attitude of Jimmie when he meets Thumpy and Mrs. Thumpy Rabbit’s baby bunnies. No uncomfortable questions about where the little rabbits came from, Jimmie just strokes their soft fur. Edith Forbush is quite the naturalist, and gently spoon-feeds little facts about bird and animal behavior to her readers in each of her Jimmie Acorn tales. Downy Woodpecker explains to Jimmie that he eats “hundreds and hundreds” of insects, and that “The trees and bushes and plants would be eaten up by the insects and caterpillars if we birds didn’t get rid of them!” The balance of nature is laid out for the edification of a “make-believe” little acorn man. I’ll always have a warm spot for characters like Jimmie Acorn. I hope you are enjoying them too, and perhaps remember him from the early 1950s. See you soon! Mark
Jimmie Acorn’s FIRST Episode!
May 15, 2026
Childhood Nostalgia, Jimmy Acorn and His Forest Friends
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Mark
Howdy Folks, I found the March, 1953 issue of Children’s Activities and it contained the very FIRST episode of Jimmie Acorn. It was created by Edith Forbush and illustrated by Ruth Van Tellingen, featuring Jimmie’s Forest Friends “Downy” Woodpecker and “Thumpy” Rabbit et famille. The main way you can tell this is the first story in the series, is that the origin of Jimmie is told in the first two paragraphs without the italics, and that a boy named “Peter” was Jimmie’s creator. “Peter” isn’t mentioned after this first episode. I like the unblinking attitude of Jimmie when he meets Thumpy and Mrs. Thumpy Rabbit’s baby bunnies. No uncomfortable questions about where the little rabbits came from, Jimmie just strokes their soft fur. Edith Forbush is quite the naturalist, and gently spoon-feeds little facts about bird and animal behavior to her readers in each of her Jimmie Acorn tales. Downy Woodpecker explains to Jimmie that he eats “hundreds and hundreds” of insects, and that “The trees and bushes and plants would be eaten up by the insects and caterpillars if we birds didn’t get rid of them!” The balance of nature is laid out for the edification of a “make-believe” little acorn man. I’ll always have a warm spot for characters like Jimmie Acorn. I hope you are enjoying them too, and perhaps remember him from the early 1950s. See you soon! Mark