Folio Reviews: Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter

b.1866, d.1943

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

This was Beatrix Potter's first book, originally printed privately in 1901 from a picture letter sent to a sick child. There are about 100 versions of The Tale of Peter Rabbit listed in Amazon's catalogue. They are all shapes and sizes, including colouring books, pop-up books, sticker books, editions with different illustrators, and video and audio cassettes. There is even a curriculum guide, and of course a number of foreign language editions. I sought simply the original little book, still a bestseller, with Beatrix Potter's own pictures (the animals were drawn from life), set out in the way she wanted it. An added source of confusion with The Tale of Peter Rabbit is that the comments on Amazon are shared by several very different editions. This one here is the original, authorized edition published by Frederick Warne & Co. It's the old, familiar little hardcover, fitting into the outstretched fingers of one hand, with the original illustrations. The story, laced with down-to-earth comedy, is substantial for such a little book, and refreshingly unsentimental. Age range: read-aloud, age 2 or 3 up, and good for children aged 6 or 7 keen to begin reading on their own.

Click on a title to see more on Amazon or to order (prices are discounted on Amazon). Except for the Picture Puffin all are standard small-format reissues of the originals, about 5.7 x 4.3 inches.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 58 pages, Frederick Warne, US$5.95 (approx 5.7 x 4.3 inches)

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Picture Puffin, larger format (8.73 x 6.9 inches); paperback, US$3.99.

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, 58 pages, Frederick Warne, hardcover, US$5.95

The Tale of Two Bad Mice, 58 pages, Frederick Warne, hardcover, US$5.95

The Tale of Mrs Tiggy Winkle, 59 pages, Frederick Warne, hardcover, US$5.95

The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher, Frederick Warne, hardcover, US$5.95

The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher, Frederick Warne, paperback, US$2.25

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, 58 pages, Frederick Warne, hardcover, US$5.95

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, 58 pages, Frederick Warne, paperback, US$2.25

M.A., August 19, 1997