Genre 1: Picture Book - Post 1

Potter, Beatrix.  2002.  The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  New York:  Fredrick Warne.  ISBN 0723247706.

This number two bestselling children's book of all time is about Peter, a young rabbit, who despite Mrs. Rabbit's warning to not "go into Mr. McGregor's garden" goes to that garden and experiences a hair raising adventure.  Mr. McGregor, not happy to see a rabbit eating his lettuce, French beans, radishes, and parsley, chases Peter with a rake in hand and tries to capture him with a sieve.  Frightened and alone and nearly ready to give up, Peter finally sees his way out - the gate- and musters the courage to escape from the garden and to run to the security and comfort of home.

Peter's actions are believable-anyone with young children know that although parents warn them to not do something, it is that exact thing that they seem to do first.  The plot flows easily from the exposition to Peter's climatic escape.  The setting of Mr. McGregor's garden that backups up to a wooded area where the rabbits live is relatable in that gardens and rabbits notoriously go together.  Although not a preachy text, this story does show the consequences of not heeding a warning.  There are no other cultural markers that could be considered offensive or stereotypical resulting in a universal, timeless book.

Potter's watercolor images of animals, their habitats, and Mr. and Mrs. McGregor are realistic.  "The charm... has to do with the fact that Beatrix Potter was a naturalist.  She drew realistic animals who just happened to be wearing knickers, breeches, and shiny brass buttons.  Somehow, when you draw a realistic animal wearing clothing, that image is infinitely cuter than howsoever many eyelashes and big brown eyes you might choose to bedeck a critter with." ¹  The illustrations compliment the story and add visual details that are not expressed in the text.  For example, Mr. and Mrs. McGregor have an infant and Peter's sisters where red cloaks while Peter wears a blue jacket.

I don't recall reading this picture book as a girl, but I read it to my three year old daughter who was captivated by Peter's unexpected escapade and asked that I read it to her again!

1.  Elizabeth Bird, “Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results #3--26," School Library Journal (blog), June 12, 2011 (1:30 p.m.), http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2009/04/20/top-100-picture-books-poll-results-30-26/.