The tale of Peter Rabbit is about a mischievous little bunny who ignores his mother's advice one morning and winds up sneaking into the garden of Mr McGregor, who chases him about and tries to catch him. Unlike his obedient sisters who spend the day picking fruit Peter ends up having an adventure which almost leaves him following the same fate as his poor father (who gets served in a pie). Fortunately for our young explorer he manages to escape the farmer's clutches goes home only for mother to serve him tea and put him to bed.
I don't know what it is about this book that makes it so alluring. The words are well chosen, I feel like I'm being read the story by Mary Poppins when I read it. I can just hear the voice in my head with it's gentle, yet no nonsense tone. The vocabulary isn't too difficult but definitely shows signs of the time it was written in. There are certain words which sound archaic.
I feel like it has more to do with the beautifully drawn illustrations, which walk that fine line between realism and cartoon cute with aplomb. It is 47 pages of quaint charm which draws a smile with every page.
Hard to believe that in 1901 it's author, Beatrix Potter could not get this published for love nor money. An educated and established woman in her own right, she ended up spending cash of her own to self publish this. It wouldn't be picked up by a publisher for another year. But published it was and that is a great relief, because it went on to change Potter's entire career, allowing her to become a major children's author. With money raised from her book sales she bought and preserved large areas of land in the lake district which are now cared for by the National Trust.
So thank goodness to the man who decided to take a chance on it, he's helped change Potter's career, save vast areas of natural beauty and my blog!
A self published book, this is number 44 of my 52 book list!
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