An Easter present better than chocolate.
One hundred and twenty years after it was originally published, The Tale of Peter Rabbit is making waves in the literary world again. The beloved children’s figure is celebrating this milestone birthday with his classic debut adventure presented in a special picture book edition.
Beatrix Potter has been a literary icon for generations, with the naughty yet adorable Peter Rabbit as her most famous creation. Peter has starred in numerous other stories and appeared in book, film, and plush format, but this debut tale remains legendary, marking his very first introduction to the world more than a century ago.
In the story, the cheeky Peter sneaks into Mr McGregor’s garden to nibble on his vegetables, despite warnings from his mother that Mrs McGregor cooked Peter’s father in a pie. This hardback book features Potter’s complete original text and her authentic illustrations, along with a brand-new gold-foil cover.
Despite being written at a time so far removed from the experiences of children today, Peter Rabbit remains an endearing character that you can’t help but want to cuddle. The simple story hasn’t lost any of its magic, nor does the prose seem dated—as sometimes happens with other pieces of classic literature.
The narrative itself contains several exciting points and peaks of tension—such as the moment where Peter is caught in the gooseberry net and left at the mercy of Mr McGregor. At the same time, the tale is comforting and wholesome, with too many sweet scenes to name.
The rich world that Potter brings to life through her concise text and engaging artwork has the power to transport readers to a different time, when children could safely be left unsupervised and found ways to keep themselves busy without the help of iPads.
While it would be enough for Potter’s work to entertain children, make them laugh, and foster a love of reading, the story also teaches a valuable lesson. It warns against ignoring one’s parents, and also shows that, sadly, there are consequences for being naughty.
The gold-foil cover is the proverbial cherry on top of this wonderful tome. With Easter coming up, The Tale of Peter Rabbit Picture Book would make a special gift that, in years to come, will be remembered much more fondly than chocolate.
Reviewed by Vanessa Elle
Instagram: @vanessaellewrites
This review is the opinion of the reviewer and not Glam Adelaide.
Distributed by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: March 2022
RRP: $16.99
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