Delphi Complete Peter Rabbit Books by Beatrix Potter (Illustrated)
4.5/5
()
About this ebook
* Concise introductions to the tales and other texts
* 22 tales, with large stunning color images
* Images of how the books were first printed, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts
* Excellent formatting of the texts
* All the works are fully illustrated with their original artwork
* Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological orderPlease note: THE TALE OF LITTLE PIG ROBINSON and Potter’s other later fiction cannot appear in this collection due to copyright restrictions. Once new texts enter the US public domain, they will be added to the collection as a free update.Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titlesCONTENTS:
The Twenty-Three Tales
THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT
THE TALE OF SQUIRREL NUTKIN
THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER
THE TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY
THE TALE OF TWO BAD MICE
THE TALE OF MRS. TIGGY-WINKLE
THE TALE OF THE PIE AND THE PATTY-PAN
THE TALE OF MR. JEREMY FISHER
THE STORY OF A FIERCE BAD RABBIT
THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET
THE TALE OF TOM KITTEN
THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK
THE TALE OF SAMUEL WHISKERS OR, THE ROLY-POLY PUDDING
THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES
THE TALE OF GINGER AND PICKLES
THE TALE OF MRS. TITTLEMOUSE
THE TALE OF TIMMY TIPTOES
THE TALE OF MR. TOD
THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND
APPLEY DAPPLY’S NURSERY RHYMES
THE TALE OF JOHNNY TOWN-MOUSE
CECILY PARSLEY’S NURSERY RHYMESPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist; she was best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Read more from Beatrix Potter
BEATRIX POTTER Ultimate Collection - 22 Children's Books With Complete Original Illustrations: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, The Story of Miss Moppet, The Tale of Tom Kitten and more Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Christmas Library: 250+ Essential Christmas Novels, Poems, Carols, Short Stories...by 100+ Authors Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Classic Tale of Peter Rabbit: The Classic Edition by The New York Times Bestselling Illustrator, Charles Santore Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time: Timeless Classics That Celebrate the Season Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tale of Benjamin Bunny Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Big Book of Christmas Tales: 250+ Short Stories, Fairytales and Holiday Myths & Legends Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tale of Two Bad Mice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeatrix Potter: Tales and Stories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beatrix Potter’s Tales Complete Illustrated Deluxe & Unabridged: (annotated) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tale of Tom Kitten Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tale of Little Pig Robinson: - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Greatest Christmas Stories: 120+ Authors, 250+ Magical Christmas Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPotter Classics for Christmas Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Delphi Complete Peter Rabbit Books by Beatrix Potter (Illustrated)
Titles in the series (25)
Delphi Complete Peter Rabbit Books by Beatrix Potter (Illustrated) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Delphi Complete Works of E. Nesbit (Illustrated) Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Delphi Complete Works of Harriet Beecher Stowe (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of Maria Edgeworth (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of Stendhal (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of Jerome K. Jerome (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Works of Arnold Bennett (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of George Meredith (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of Charles Reade (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of Bret Harte (Illustrated) Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Delphi Collected Works of Edgar Rice Burroughs (Illustrated) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Delphi Works of Edgar Wallace (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Works of Robert E. Howard (Illustrated) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Delphi Complete Works of Stephen Crane (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsComplete Works of Charles Kingsley (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Works of Zane Grey US (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Collected Works of E. M. Forster (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Works of Arthur Machen (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
SF Ultimate Collection: 20+ Time Travel & Dystopia Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeach Trees, Honey Bees & Faded Overalls: Stories Of A Southern Sharecropper's Son Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThoreau's Notes on Birds of New England Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Works of Howard Pyle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNot that it Matters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Napoleon of Notting Hill Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Around the World in 80 Days Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnimal Legends from Many Lands Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHenry Dresser and Victorian ornithology: Birds, books and business Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScience and Salvation: Evangelical Popular Science Publishing in Victorian Britain Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWind in the Willows (Illustrated): Children's Classic with Original Illustrations Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tails Don't Lie 2: A Pack of Dog Cartoons Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPoe Illustrated Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Red Lily Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe History of Modern Painting, Volume 1 (of 4) Revised edition continued by the author to the end of the XIX century Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGeorgics (Zongo Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOlympia: The Birth of the Games Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRemington Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eye of Flame: Fantasies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSnow Leopards Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLife Through the Ages II: Twenty-first Century Visions of Prehistory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (Omnibus Edition) (Diversion Illustrated Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Book of Pirates Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Delphi Works of Rudyard Kipling (Illustrated) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cowboy Life: Reconstructing an American Myth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDragonfly Wings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lost World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lives of the Artists (Volume III of III) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Classics For You
The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Color Purple Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dune Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Things They Carried Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Flowers for Algernon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Have Always Lived in the Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Farewell to Arms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rebecca Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Confederacy of Dunces Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Odyssey: (The Stephen Mitchell Translation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mythos Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights (with an Introduction by Mary Augusta Ward) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Master & Margarita Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count of Monte Cristo Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Old Man and the Sea: The Hemingway Library Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sense and Sensibility (Centaur Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Count of Monte-Cristo English and French Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ulysses: With linked Table of Contents Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Jungle: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/520000 Leagues Under the Sea Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Hemingway Library Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little Women (Seasons Edition -- Winter) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Republic by Plato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count of Monte Cristo (abridged) (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Good and Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Canterbury Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Delphi Complete Peter Rabbit Books by Beatrix Potter (Illustrated)
36 ratings41 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Even 112 years after it was first published this book remains a beloved children's book. I have fond memories of my mom reading this book to me and later reading this book myself. Peter Rabbit is different than his siblings Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. They were happy to gather blueberries, but Peter’s curiosity leads him to Mr McGregor’s garden where he was told not to go by his Mum. He ignores his mother’s warning and goes anyway. Even today children can relate to the character Peter Rabit. The off limits is always irresistible to kids. The plot is simple which makes it easy for children to follow. The story contains a valuable lesson about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of listening to your parents.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I enjoyed this one a lot more than I was expecting to, and so did my little boy. He gasped as he saw Peter sneaking into Mr. McGregor's garden, and looked at me with fright: "But, he'll be made into pie!?" A simple little story, full of action and delight, the pictures so lovely, and just the right length for bedtime reading.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book for children ( and grown-ups!) with fabulous pictures.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary- Peter Rabbit, being the honoree bunny he is, does not listen to his mothers warning about keeping away from Mr. McGregor’s garden. Peter goes into the garden to get so berries for him and three siblings. While in the garden, Mr. McGregor finds Peter. Peter finds himself in a lot of danger, while he tries to escape from the angry Mr. McGregor. Peter end up escaping but lost his clothing on the way. He returns home feeling very sick. His sibling and mother get to snack on the nice treat he risked so much to get. Personal Reaction - I really like this book. It is a cute story for kids and it teaches kids a lesson about listening to their parents. The main lesson of this book is about the consequences of dissections. The books good, but the lesion it teaches is the best part.Classroom Extensions 1.“Mr. McGregor’s Garden” Have the student assist you in making a classroom garden. Plant things such radishes, peas, and other thing you would typically find in the garden. Have a daily watering chart to have the kids get involved with the garden2. “ Peter Rabbit and his Family”- Do a small unit over rabbits. Teach about what they eat, where they live, what different kinds of rabbits there are and things along this line. At the end of the unit, ( if you are a loud) bring a live bunny into the classroom.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5In my opinion this is a good book. The story is about Peter Rabbit, who is very mischievous and breaks the rules that his mother gives. Peter finds himself in trouble and finds many different ways to escape. I liked how the plot of this story was very strong. For instance, there is a clear beginning, middle, and end of the story, including a conflict. The end of the story solves the problem, but a lesson is still learned. At the end, he does get home safely, but he misses out on supper with his siblings. Another thing that I liked about this story was the character of Peter Rabbit. This story shows a character misbehaving and not doing what they were told and in a result they almost deal with consequences that could arise. I think that it is easy for children to relate to Peter Rabbit and the author did a very good job of developing this character into someone that children can read about and believe. Overall, the message of the story is the idea of disobedience. Peter Rabbit does not listen to his mother, which is a lesson for children to learn that “parents know best.” Children can see how breaking the rules can result in many difficult consequences.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not too much to it without the illustrations. The Raggedy Ann stories were better. They stood up well even without the illustrations.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary: Peter Rabbit and his siblings are told by their mother to go and play, but to stay away from Mr. McGregor’s garden. Peter doesn’t listen to his mother and goes to the garden to eat. Mr. McGregor sees him and chases him throughout the garden. Peter eventually escapes, but not before losing his jacket and shoes. When he arrives home, he is exhausted and not feeling well. His mother puts him to bed, while his siblings get to eat blackberries. Personal Reaction: The Tale of Peter Rabbit has always been one of my favorite stories. I love the description of all of the mischief peter gets into, and the ways he has to hide from Mr. McGregor. Even though the illustrations are on the smaller side, I think that the suspense of whether or not Peter will escape is enough to hold the attention of even young children. The illustrations that are present are traditional, not modern with bright colors, but are beautiful. Extension Ideas: This would be a great book to use in a gardening unit. Students could help to construct a barrier (to keep Peter out!) around a class garden. You could incorporate math skills in measuring out the pieces used to build the barrier. You could also have each student create a scarecrow like Mr. McGregor did out of Peter’s jacket to put in the garden.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the story of a family of rabbits. After the mother has warned her son Peter not to go into the vegetable garden, he disobeys her and does. Students will love reading this classic novel and learning what happens next.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a story about four little rabbits who lived with their Mother. Mother left the children to go to the baker's and told them not to get into mischief, and especially don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter Rabbit's siblings went down the lane to gather blackberries, but Peter went straight for Mr. McGregor's garden. He ate lettuce, french beans, radishes and when he was looking for some parsley, he ran into Mr. McGregor! Mr. McGregor chased Peter and Peter got trapped in gooseberry net. Some friendly sparrows helped Peter out of the net and he wandered around the garden trying to find his way out. Peter eventually found his way out and ran all the way home without looking back, but he had lost all of his clothes.This story shows that there can be consequences to your actions and that you should follow the rules. Each student could re-create their favorite scene from this book by drawing it out and write one sentence explaining why they chose that scene.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the quintessential cautionary tale, warning children about the grave consequences of misbehaving. This was my first reading of the book and I can't shake the feeling that Peter is really caught by Mr McGregor, and that the second half of the book is a mere dream sequence of being skinned and made into a pie. I don't have any evidence to back me up other than I found the story of Peter's father foreshadowing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What's better than Peter Rabbit in French? I bought this little book long ago and I don't remember exactly where or when but it is adorable.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book can be used for cause and effect because when Peter Rabbit ate the vegetables he got in trouble by his mom for disobeying. This could also teach students to about obedience.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another classic tale about a little rabbit name peter who learns a lesson the hard way. Certainly a must read!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A cute story of a rabbit who takes chances in his quest for food. A good book to use when teaching about plot and sequencing. Also can be used to teach cause and effect.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A cute story that is a timeless classic, complemented by beautiful, simple pictures.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peter Rabbit diobey's his mother and goes to Mr. Mcgregor's garden where he has a huge adventure running away from Mcgregor and loosing his coat and shoes. When Peter returns home he is sick and put to bed and misses out on blackberries which the others are eating. The pop up added to this story as it let you be interactive with the story.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The illistrations are the best part of the book, but the story is good too. I never read this book as a child, but I see why it's so popular. It's simple and sweet and there are cute little rabbits that dress in human clothing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary:This is a story about a little bunny, who was warned not to go into Mr. McGregor’s garden. However, the little bunny doesn’t listen. Mr. McGregor chases him around his garden until Peter, the rabbit, lost his shoes and his jacket. Peter finally escapes and runs home. That night, Peter was not feeling well, due to his events from the day.Personal Reflections:I love this book. I read it many times when I was a young child and it never gets old. The pictures in the story stand out and help the story seem more realistic. I felt like this story had a deeper meaning of teaching children not to steal and also to listen to our parents/guardians. Classroom Extension Ideas:1. This book is a great way to show children that misbehaving has consequences. 2. This book would also teach children that persistence pays off. If he would have given up, Peter Rabbit would have never made it out of the garden.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary: Peter Rabbit is a very naughty bunny. He disobeys his mother’s rules and finds himself in a lot of trouble. He sneaks into a garden and tastes lettuce, beans and radishes only to get chased out by the farmer. After running and hiding for his life he makes it back home safely. Unfortunately he has to spend the night in bed sick missing out on dessert. Personal Reaction: This was read to my brother as a child then to me as a child. We have passed it onto our children. I enjoy this book because every child can connect to either the naughty Peter or the always good sisters. I also enjoy the simple classic illustrations that give it a traditional feel.Classroom Extension Ideas: This can be a great introduction to a garden lesson, they can learn about the vegetables grown and the animals that might want to eat them. It would also be a great way to show how rules and policies are there to protect and need to be followed.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I enjoyed this little tale about a young rabbit named Peter. Before going out, Peter's mother warned Peter and his siblings about not going into Mr. McGregor's garden while she was gone. Peter being the mischievous rabbit that he was, ignored his mother's instructions and ventured off to Mr. McGregor's garden anyway. After roaming around the garden and eating some lettuce, he was spotted by Mr. McGregor. Mr. McGregor went crazy and chased little Peter all over the garden. Eventually Peter made a great escape and ran straight home where he passed out from exhaustion. Peter felt terrible and went to bed. His mother didn't know what happened to him, but she gave him some medicine as he went to bed.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I remember loving this as a child, particularly the cat by the pond. It's still a great 5-minute read when sleep appears elusive.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A true classic! This book reminds me of why I love children's books.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A little rabbit who has made his way into the hearts of so many children and adults alike over the years. Delightful.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is about Peter Rabbit. His mother told him not to go to Mr. McGregor's garden but Peter is a bad rabbit so he went and was seem ny the farmer and was chased and lost all his new clothes and ended up in a watering can and he ended up with a cold sick in bed.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not a fan of this edition, and yes I know it is a classic, but I feel too long for storytime. Naughty Peter Rabbit gets lost in Mr. McGregor's garden.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In this book Peter rabbit lives with his mother and sisters flopsy and mopsy cottontail. The wear clothes and live in a burrow near Mr. McGregor's garden that they are not allowed to go into because that's where their father disappeared. Peter sneaks into the garden and gets caught by Mr. McGregor. As he tried to escape he leaves his jacket and shoes behind which Mr. McGregor uses as a scarecrow in his garden. Peter tried to go back and get his things but becomes ill and his mother takes care of him by giving him tea and never letting him go to the garden again. A very good book for students to learn lessons and read a classic book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is my favorite story.I have known this story since I was in kindergarten,soI feel closeness to this story.Peter, it's the name of this rabbit.He is very mischievous rabbit,so he faced dangerous events because he ignored his mother's order.But fanally, he had a narrow escapefrom being a meat pie! But when he returned his house,he was scolded his mother...But anyway, this is very good heart warming story.I recommend this book to you!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Tale of Peter Rabbit is not the second best-selling children’s book of all time for no reason! Beatrix Potters’ tour de force story of a naughty little rabbit has captured the imagination of generations of readers. Potter’s exquisite illustrations breath life into characters that leap off the pages into the mind’s eye. Potter animates the voices of Mrs. Rabbit, Peter, and Mr. McGregor with her adroit prose, and her gentle humor reassures the reader that no harm will come to Peter. What is more, Peter Rabbit has entered the literary canon as the quintessential bunny character. Truly this little book and its cousins are classic treasures to be savored again and again.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5With Potter's beautiful water color illustrations, the story of naughty Peter and Mr. MacGregor.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I liked this story. As with the other books in the series this was a lovely story. I read it again after finding it in the loft. The illustrations in the book are fantastic, they have so much depth but the writing itself was brilliant too. There was no bad grammar. I hate the 'Charlie and Lola' series that encourages bad grammar because it is perceived as cute. The grammar in this is good and it also has a large vocabulary.The story was interesting and had a good moral. I like the way it was put bluntly 'don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden; your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.' I found it interesting upon writing that quote the perceived non-British way of writing a full stop inside the speech marks. Part of the series was to show children that animals are quite easily another animals food, which peeople forget when characters are involved, so it was good that it was so blunt. However, when the same might happen to Peter you really feel for the character and want him to get away. A great story for children!
Book preview
Delphi Complete Peter Rabbit Books by Beatrix Potter (Illustrated) - Beatrix Potter
The Illustrated Tales of
BEATRIX POTTER
(1866-1943)
img1.jpgContents
The Illustrated Tales
THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT
THE TALE OF SQUIRREL NUTKIN
THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER
THE TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY
THE TALE OF TWO BAD MICE
THE TALE OF MRS. TIGGY-WINKLE
THE TALE OF THE PIE AND THE PATTY-PAN
THE TALE OF MR. JEREMY FISHER
THE STORY OF A FIERCE BAD RABBIT
THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET
THE TALE OF TOM KITTEN
THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK
THE TALE OF SAMUEL WHISKERS OR, THE ROLY-POLY PUDDING
THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES
THE TALE OF GINGER AND PICKLES
THE TALE OF MRS. TITTLEMOUSE
THE TALE OF TIMMY TIPTOES
THE TALE OF MR. TOD
THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND
APPLEY DAPPLY’S NURSERY RHYMES
THE TALE OF JOHNNY TOWN-MOUSE
CECILY PARSLEY’S NURSERY RHYMES
img2.png© Delphi Classics 2013
Version 1
img3.jpgThe Illustrated Tales
BEATRIX POTTER
img4.pngBy Delphi Classics, 2013
Interested in classic children’s literature?
Then you’ll love these eBooks:
img5.pngL. Frank Baum’s timeless stories in the magical Land of Oz, L. M. Montgomery’s beautiful tales of Anne of Green Gables and J. M. Barrie’s magical Peter Pan adventures have entertained readers for over a hundred years. Now for the first time in publishing history, you can own the complete works of these prolific writers.
www.delphiclassics.com
The Illustrated Tales
img6.pngBolton Gardens, South Kensington — Beatrix Potter’s birthplace
img7.pngThe present day plaque on the site of the birthplace
img8.pngPotter as a child
img9.jpgPotter with her mother, c. 1876
img10.pngPotter as a child
THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT
img11.pngThe Tale of Peter Rabbit is Beatrix Potter’s first and most famous book. Initially written for the young son of Potter’s former governess, Annie Carter, in 1893, the work was rejected by a series of publishers, before being privately printed in 1901, followed by Frederick Warne & Co publishing the tale in October 1902. It centres on the disobedient young rabbit Peter, who is told by his mother not to enter Mr McGregor’s garden because he might be captured and killed. Mr McGregor’s wife is also considered very cruel and frightening because she killed and ate her first husband in a pie. Peter’s three sisters sensibly obey their mother’s warning and only pick berries from the lane, but Peter decides to enter the garden in search of vegetables. The story then involves Peter’s possible capture and attempts to make it home to his mother and sisters. Peter is an unusual hero for the time because he is scared and irrational rather than brave, courageous and logical which were typical characteristics of the era.
The work has been translated into over thirty-six languages and sold more than forty-five million copies worldwide, making it one of the most commercially successful books of all time. In 1938 Potter denied the rights of the work to Walt Disney, who wished to make an animated feature film of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The author was immediately very aware of the commercial possibilities of merchandise stemming from the success of her work. Within the first three years of its publication there were Peter Rabbit soft toys, nursery wallpaper and a board game.
img12.pngOne of the initial 250 copies published privately for the author. In 1901 Potter sent her manuscript of ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ to at least six publishers, only to have it refused by each of them. She made the decision to print the book herself whilst continuing the search for a publisher who would issue the book as she wished.
img13.jpgThe first edition
img14.pngPotter, close to the time of publication
THE TALE OF
PETER RABBIT
img15.jpgBY
BEATRIX POTTER
Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were —
Flopsy,
Mopsy,
Cotton-tail,
and Peter.
img16.jpgThey lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree.
img17.png‘Now my dears,’ said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, ‘you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.’
img18.jpg‘Now run along, and don’t get into mischief. I am going out.’
img19.jpgThen old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, and went through the wood to the baker’s. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns.
img20.jpgFlopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries:
img21.jpgBut Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor’s garden, and squeezed under the gate!
img22.jpgFirst he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes;
img23.jpgAnd then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.
img24.jpgBut round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!
img25.jpgMr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, ‘Stop thief!’
img26.jpgPeter was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate.
He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.
img27.jpgAfter losing them, he ran on four legs and went faster, so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net, and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new.
img28.jpgPeter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.
img29.jpgMr. McGregor came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him.
img30.jpgAnd rushed into the tool-shed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not had so much water in it.
img31.jpgMr. McGregor was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the tool-shed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot. He began to turn them over carefully, looking under each.
Presently Peter sneezed— ‘Kertyschoo!’ Mr. McGregor was after him in no time.
img32.jpgAnd tried to put his foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired of running after Peter. He went back to his work.
img33.jpgPeter sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and he had not the least idea which way to go. Also he was very damp with sitting in that can.
After a time he began to wander about, going lippity — lippity — not very fast, and looking all round.
img34.jpgHe found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath.
An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry.
img35.jpgThen he tried to find his way straight across the garden, but he became more and more puzzled. Presently, he came to a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water-cans. A white cat was staring at some gold-fish, she sat very, very still, but now and then the tip of her tail twitched as if it were alive. Peter thought it best to go away without speaking to her; he had heard about cats from his cousin, little Benjamin Bunny.
img36.jpgHe went back towards the tool-shed, but suddenly, quite close to him, he heard the noise of a hoe — scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch. Peter scuttered underneath the bushes. But presently, as nothing happened, he came out, and climbed upon a wheelbarrow and peeped over. The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor hoeing onions. His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate!
img37.jpgPeter got down very quietly off the wheelbarrow; and started running as fast as he could go, along a straight walk behind some black-currant bushes.
Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner, but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.
img38.jpgMr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.
Peter never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir-tree.
img39.jpgHe was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight!
img40.jpgI am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.
His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!
‘One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time.’
img41.jpgBut Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.
THE END
THE TALE OF SQUIRREL NUTKIN
img11.pngThe Tale of Squirrel Nutkin was published in August 1903 by Frederick Warne & Co and followed Potter’s hugely successful book The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The book originated from a story and picture that Potter sent to Norah Moore, the daughter of her former governess, Annie Carter Moore. The tale was inspired by Potter’s summer in the Lake District in 1901. She spent the time sketching pictures of red squirrels and the landscape around St Herbert’s Island, which would later become Owl Island in The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. Potter was working on a few stories between 1901 and the end of 1902, including a tale about a poor tailor, which would later become The Tailor of Gloucester. However, in November 1902 her publisher encouraged her to continue sketching squirrels for a tale about the animals and in August 1903 the book was released. It immediately sold well resulting in ten thousand additional copies being printed in the latter part of 1903.
The plot concerns Squirrel Nutkin and his cousins and brother, who all decide to sail to Owl Island on a raft they have made from twigs. Old Brown is the resident owl of the island and Squirrel Nutkin and his companions offer gifts to him so they will be allowed to collect nuts on the land. However, Nutkin is disrespectful to Old Brown and begins to sing a silly riddle and dance around. Nutkin’s brother and cousins continue to offer presents to Old Brown for the next six days while Nutkin persists in performing his riddles. The story then becomes a tale of whether Squirrel Nutkin can escape from Old Brown and Owl Island with his life. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin reflects Potter’s interest in fairytales and her frequent use of repetition of riddles and songs is a common feature of that genre of storytelling. Once again Potter presents a naughty and rebellious character, who attempts to subvert power structures and faces terrible consequences if caught.
img42.jpgThe first edition
THE TALE OF
SQUIRREL NUTKIN
img43.jpgBY
BEATRIX POTTER
Author of "The Tale of Peter