The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Bibliography: 

Potter, B., & Vining, A. (2014). The tale of peter rabbit. National Braille Press.

Plot Summary: 

Peter disobeys his mother by going into Mr. McGregor's garden and almost gets caught.

Critical Analysis:

Although it is the true story of Winnie the Pooh, it wasn't the least bit childish or 'dry'. The book is a story within a story--a mother telling a bedtime story to her son. Through her tale, we learn about how a young bear cub travels from Canada to England during WW I and is ultimately placed in the zoo for safekeeping while his soldier/owner/friend goes off to war. Since the cub was raised around people, it has been socialized and soon befriends a frequent zoo visitor, a young boy named Christopher Robin Milne. And with that bit of information, I'm sure you can guess the wonderful connection. The books ending has a warm-hearted twist.

The book contains not only has this delightful, true story but includes actual pictures of people and supporting documents that take this book from storytelling to reality in a way that children can easily understand and accept. I definitely recommend this book well written, interesting, and has a few surprising facts that will inform a few adults as well!

Review Excerpt: 

Library Talk: (September/October 2001)

"Hague's vibrantly colored, full-page illustrations give this classic tale a more contemporary look. Compared to Potter's original paintings, they show Peter and his siblings with larger eyes and rounded bodies. The rendering of Mr. McGregor, for instance, is more realistic looking than the original. The new illustrations are more intricate and colorful than Potter's, and complement the text, as hers did."

Connections:

- The classic of Beatrix Potter but with different/bright illustrations

- Folklore that has been passed down for many years

- Has a film that has come out in recent years. Would be a great thing to compare and contrast the book and movie.