Archive | March 4, 2022

The Tale of Peter Rabbit 120th Anniversary

The Tale of Peter Rabbit 120th Anniversary

The Tale of Peter Rabbit 120th Anniversary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit 120th Anniversary

Beatrix Potter

Warne, 2022

32pp., hbk., RRP $A16.99

9780241545379

In 1902 publishers Frederick Warne & Co. took a punt on publishing a children’s book that had been privately printed but rejected by other publishers.  

Not only were the stories of Peter Rabbit and the infamous Mr McGregor’s garden were available to children around the world, but also their iconic format of small books with white covers, glossy pages and lots of white space around the pictures and text.  Now, in 2022, a new edition – this time with a splendid gold cover – has been issued to mark the 120th anniversary of that first publication.  

This is the original tale with Peter at his most adventurous, cheekiest and lovable self as he wriggles into Mr. McGregor’s garden, with Beatrix Potter’s original text and her beautifully engaging illustrations but in a new, larger format, that allows families to share the stories together.

When it was first released, creator Beatrix Potter patented a Peter Rabbit doll in 1903 and followed it almost immediately with a Peter Rabbit board game. becoming one of the first to introduce broader merchandise to accompany the core product and thus Peter has featured on a range of goods for both children and adults, including toys, dishes, foods, clothing, and movies, thus establishing his familiarity and popularity with succeeding generations.  

If you, or someone you know, is establishing a library of must-have children’s classics, then this is an essential. And having whet the appetite, continue to share the joy with the others in her repertoire

Book 1: The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
Book 2: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)
Book 3: The Tailor of Gloucester (1903)
Book 4: The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)
Book 5: The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)
Book 6: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (1905)
Book 7: The Tale of The Pie and the Patty-Pan (1905)
Book 8: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)
Book 9: The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit (1906)
Book 10: The Story of Miss Moppet (1906)
Book 11: The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907)
Book 12: The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (1908)
Book 13: The Tale of Samuel Whiskers (1908)
Book 14: The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies (1909)
Book 15: The Tale of Ginger and Pickles (1909)
Book 16: The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse (1910)
Book 17: The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes (1911)
Book 18: The Tale of Mr. Tod (1912)
Book 19: The Tale of Pigling Bland (1913)
Book 20: Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes (1917)
Book 21: The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse (1918) 
Book 22: Cecily Parsley’s Nursery Rhymes (1922)
Book 23: The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (1930)

And don’t forget the recently-discovered Book 24 – The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots

And in serendipity, this post from A Mighty Girl with lots of info and links to works about Beatrix Potter, herself…

Today’s A Mighty Girl Community Pick is in celebration of Women’s History Month: “Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit” by Linda Marshall. When Beatrix Potter was growing up, girls weren’t supposed to do… well, much of anything. They didn’t go to school and were expected to stay at home and keep house — but Beatrix wanted to do more. The nature-loving girl had a gift for drawing and writing, and grew up to write a story about a naughty rabbit named Peter that became a tremendous success. So when developers threatened the countryside that she loved, she used the money from her books to purchase acres and acres of land in England’s Lake District, leaving it in a trust so that future generations could enjoy it as much as she did. This gorgeously illustrated picture book biography celebrates Beatrix Potter’s many accomplishments, including her little-known contribution to saving the countryside that inspired her beloved stories. Highly recommended for ages 5 to 9.
For another fascinating picture book telling her story, we also recommend “Beatrix Potter, Scientist” for ages 5 to 9.
To share her inspiring story with older kids, we recommend the illustrated biography “Who Was Beatrix Potter?” for ages 8 to 12 while adult fans of Beatrix Potter and her many books will love “Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life“and “Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature
For more children’s books about girls who love exploring the great outdoors, visit our blog post, “Explore Your World: 30 Mighty Girl Books About Outdoor Discovery”