Due to my living in China this book was purchased through iBooks and viewed on an iPad. It is a standard picture book with accompanying narration that may be turned onn or off. Mention of variations between the print and digital editions of the text are noted.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Potter, Beatrix. 2005. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT (A READ AND LISTEN PICTURE BOOK). Project Gutenberg eBook EBook # 14838. Original copy produced by Robert Cicconetti, Ronald Holder and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdg.net).
2. PLOT SUMMARY
A wonderful, timeless story is what Beatrix Potter wove when she wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Having heard variations on the story I could not recall having read it for myself. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet, straightforward storyline, and the meetings with the various animals that lived in Mr. McGregor’s garden. The moral of the story is not overhanded or overt, but smoothly interwoven into the consequences of Peter’s actions. There is no denying the reason this book is an ageless classic is because the storyline is so engaging and easily connects to readers young and old.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is considered the “perfect” picture storybook for good reason. The tale is woven effortlessly and brings the readers through every twist and turn of Peter’s naughty romp in Mr. McGregor’s garden, with all of the joy, sadness, fright and relief that it contains. The illustrations, too are so quietly beautiful in detail ans nuance, and so perfectly paired with the story that it is the measure to which all other picture storybooks must measure themselves.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this classic in a new light through the Read and Listen Picturebook format supported by Project Gutenberg. The original illustrations and text were paired with a wonderful narration that was well performed and would draw children in. The original 1902 text and images were preserved and are now shared in an entirely new format that makes use of the best that digital technologies have to offer for keeping children engaged in reading.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Review in Kids Book Review.com: “With Beatrix Potter’s beautiful fluid text, timeless illustrations and mischievous hero – this book is as charming as ever. I still love you, Peter!”
Review in Amazon.com: “Beatrix Potter's animal stories have been a joy to generations of young readers. Her warm, playful illustrations in soft colors invite children into the world of words and flights of fancy. Once there, she gently and humorously guides readers along the path of righteousness, leaving just enough room for children to wonder if that incorrigible Peter will be back in McGregor's garden tomorrow.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*This book can lead to a wonderful opportunity for children to engage in analysis and comparison and contrast at an early age when multiple versions and editions of this tale are brought together in the classroom. Students can fill in charts and graphs, create and give surveys and then analyze the results and even engage in the democratic process by “voting” for their favorite edition, version or set of illustrations.
*Students can take off from here and enjoy the entire series of Peter Rabbit books from Beatrix Potter in addition to the first story.
*Other books for children about rabbits:
Bianco, Margery Williams. THE VELVETEEN RABBIT. ISBN 978-1-59197-757-5
Na, Il Sung. SNOW RABBIT, SPRING RABBIT: A BOOK OF CHANGING SEASONS. ISBN 978-0-375-86786-6
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