Peter Rabbit

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

``Peter Rabbit lives with his mother and sisters under the root of a big fir-tree. Peter wears a blue coat with brass buttons for going out. Naughty Peter likes to eat lettuces and radishes from Mr. McGregor's garden. But he doesn't like his mother's medicine!'' Accompanied by five of Potter's illustrations, each of these board books is designed to introduce toddlers to Peter and the other Potter favorites. However, the text is as flat as Jemima Puddleduck's feet and quite long for a concept book. These four titles may have fared better had the real tales been kept intact, or if the characters and incidents from the books were merely labeled. Parents will probably prefer the originals. (6 months-3 years)

Children's Literature

Variation and permutations of Beatrix Potter's characters and drawings abound. In this board book, very young children are introduced to Peter Rabbit. The cover features Peter in his blue jacket and he has a fuzzy white tail. The inside pages depict Peter's home and family. He has three sisters who wear red capes and who are obedient. Peter is naughty and he forages for food in Mr. McGregor's garden. The pictures and text are not particularly cohesive—other than introducing Peter, there isn't much to this book. 2001, Warne, $4.99. Ages 3 mo. to 2. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Peter Rabbit handsome in his blue jacket looks out at young readers from the cover of this shaped board book. The soft watercolor illustrations recount the familiar story of the disobedient little rabbit who does not pick blackberries with his sisters, but instead heads for Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter enjoy some lettuce, beans, and radishes, but is soon spotted by Mr. McGregor. The chase is on, and Peter escapes, but in the process loses his pretty blue jacket with the shiny gold buttons. Not feeling well that evening, Peter was put right to bed. The story has been abbreviated. For those who want to read the full tale, a reissue has come out entitled Selected Tales from Beatrix Potter.

School Library Journal

PreS - Gr 3 These full texts of three favorites ( Jeremy Fisher and The Tailor of Gloucester as well as the title Tale), with spacious format, attractive design and commonplace contemporary pictures would be acceptable except in comparison with the originals. In her tiny, still charming watercolors Beatrix Potter was meticulous in the acccuracy of natural details which combined to give a perfect sense of real places. Delacre dedicates this volume to Potter as ``an example and an inspiration,'' but the overall effect is bland, and there is a sloppy lack of attention to accuracy: a three-toed cat, a stuffed animal rabbit in which an arm seems to grow out of the side of its head, underwater bubbles traveling down and then up. Of course an artist may reillustrate a classic, but a formidable original demands a formidable reinterpretation. Potter's beautiful, impeccable illustrations are a perfect match for her finely honed prose. Our children deserve no less. Joanna Rudge Long, formerly at New York Public Library

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Over the years, Hague has re-illustrated many texts that were in the public domain. A number of his books have given new life to overlooked work and have been widely appreciated. His reinterpretation of the work of Potter, however, is egregiously unnecessary. Potter wanted her books to be small enough for little hands to hold. Hague's book is almost twice as large. Potter's book has softly colored spot illustrations, honing in beautifully on the drama or emotions of the facing pages of text. Hague's art is overblown with extraneous details that threaten to overwhelm the plot. His rabbits with enormous eyes are reminiscent of those kitschy, large-eyed waifs popularized by the Keans in the 1960s. If Potter's books were out of print, or in danger of becoming so, one might be more receptive to Hague's version, but they are readily available and hard, if not impossible, to improve upon. Why try?-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.