Review: THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT by Beatrix Potter

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Potter, Beatrix. 2001. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT. Ill. by Michael Hague. New York: Sea Star Books. ISBN 1587170523

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this timeless children's classic, Peter Rabbit comes to life as a mischievous and curious young bunny. He ignores his mother’s warning to stay away from Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden despite her stern reminder that his father was baked into a pie by Mrs. McGregor. Peter stuffs himself with vegetables, and goes looking for parsley to calm his queasy tummy. Alas, conflict comes in the form of Mr. McGregor, who chases Peter through the garden waving a rake, almost catches him when he gets caught in a gooseberry net, and again in the tool shed. Peter escapes the shed, manages to avoid the cat, and finds the gate again. When the poor, worn out bunny gets home, he gets put to bed with a dose of chamomile tea while his sisters get a meal of bread, milk and blackberries.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In the personification of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter has created a character which children can easily relate to. Nothing is as irresistible as something that is off-limits, and Peter is no exception to this rule. Peter’s wayward behavior is in contrast to his sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were well-behaved little bunnies. The plot of the story is fairly simple. Peter disregards his mother’s instructions, and trouble follows. Rising action begins as Peter enters the garden, and it comes to a climax when he encounters Mr. McGregor and is almost captured. What makes it so enchanting is the myriad of details it contains and the mini-conflicts along the way when Peter gets tangled in the gooseberry net, hides in the wet watering can, loses his coat and shoes and narrowly avoids the cat. The resolution to the conflict is achieved when Peter finds the garden gate once again.

The illustrations by Michael Hague are beautiful and detailed. Expressions on the faces of the animal characters reveal human-like emotions, while the details of the pictures are exquisite. Rich and vibrant colors in the landscape, garden, and home under the fir tree, create a realistic setting to this story. Each creature is carefully portrayed in such detail that you can see the individual hairs on the animals and the veins on the leaves of the plants in the garden. The illustrations support the text in the way they capture the contentment on Peter’s face as he munches on a radish, fear as he tries to escape Mr. McGregor, sadness and discouragement as he searches in vain to find the garden gate and utter exhaustion when he finally gets home.

This story may be a bit dismaying to children when they realize what it means that Peter’s father was baked in a pie, but it contains a valuable lesson about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of listening to one’s parents. From the beautiful illustrations to the inherent lesson, this is a story that children love to listen to.

4. REVIEWS EXCERPTS

Common Sense Media: “This first story by Beatrix Potter is one of her best. Everyone wants to explore forbidden things, and Peter Rabbit is no different.”

Booklist review: “Undoubtedly one of the most famous books for children, this enduring classic has been reprinted more than 100 times …” “… the original illustrations have been re-photographed, giving children and adults a beautiful new edition to love and appreciate.”

5. CONNECTIONS

My second grade students loved the fact that Peter was tempted to do wrong just like they did sometimes. They loved the realistic look of the animals even though they were dressed in clothing and the rich coloring in the illustrations.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit can be used to stress the importance of safety rules. After reading this story to a class, children could discuss safety rules that their parents require them to follow, and the consequences of ignoring them. Students could then use this story as a jumping-off point for a writing project about a time when they ignored instructions and the consequences that resulted.

Other books by Beatrix Potter about naughty animals and the trouble they get into.

Potter, Beatrix: The Tale of Benjamin Bunny ISBN 978072347739

Potter, Beatrix: The Tale of Two Bad Mice ISBN 0723247749

Potter, Beatrix: The Tale of Tom Kitten ISBN 07232