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Tales from Beatrix Potter
Tales from Beatrix Potter Contains tales such as "The Tailor of Gloucester", "The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle", "The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck" and "The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies". Full description
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 1986
6 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Beatrix Potter
3,319 books2,135 followersHelen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, mycologist, and conservationist who is best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as Peter Rabbit.
Born into a wealthy household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets, and through holidays in Scotland and the Lake District, developed a love of landscape, flora, and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted. Because she was a woman, her parents discouraged intellectual development, but her study and paintings of fungi led her to be widely respected in the field of mycology.
In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit and became secretly engaged to her publisher, Norman Warne, causing a breach with her parents, who disapproved of his social status. Warne died before the wedding.
Potter eventually published 24 children's books, the most recent being The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots (2016), and having become financially independent of her parents, was able to buy a farm in the Lake District, which she extended with other purchases over time.
In her forties, she married a local solicitor, William Heelis. She became a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to write and illustrate children's books. Potter died in 1943 and left almost all of her property to The National Trust in order to preserve the beauty of the Lake District as she had known it, protecting it from developers.
Potter's books continue to sell well throughout the world, in multiple languages. Her stories have been retold in various formats, including a ballet, films, and in animation.
Born into a wealthy household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets, and through holidays in Scotland and the Lake District, developed a love of landscape, flora, and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted. Because she was a woman, her parents discouraged intellectual development, but her study and paintings of fungi led her to be widely respected in the field of mycology.
In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit and became secretly engaged to her publisher, Norman Warne, causing a breach with her parents, who disapproved of his social status. Warne died before the wedding.
Potter eventually published 24 children's books, the most recent being The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots (2016), and having become financially independent of her parents, was able to buy a farm in the Lake District, which she extended with other purchases over time.
In her forties, she married a local solicitor, William Heelis. She became a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to write and illustrate children's books. Potter died in 1943 and left almost all of her property to The National Trust in order to preserve the beauty of the Lake District as she had known it, protecting it from developers.
Potter's books continue to sell well throughout the world, in multiple languages. Her stories have been retold in various formats, including a ballet, films, and in animation.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 6, 2020
Potter's stories are all cherished, worthwhile tales to read aloud to children. It's always a delight to return to these. This world is raw, real, and so rare to see in modern children's stories. There's a severity about them, a heartbreak and a hierarchy. Danger and sad endings are entirely possible here. I love seeing the influences in these stories that hide behind scenes in C. S. Lewis's Narniad.
I read this short collection so I could give away this copy. Instead I want to buy The Complete Tales so I can own and read all of Potter's stories.
This collection has these stories:
"The Tailor of Gloucester"
"The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle"
"The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck"
"The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies"
I read this short collection so I could give away this copy. Instead I want to buy The Complete Tales so I can own and read all of Potter's stories.
This collection has these stories:
"The Tailor of Gloucester"
"The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle"
"The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck"
"The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies"
July 11, 2018
I read this for a challenge: Read a classic children's book that you did not read as a child. I tried reading one of my beloved Nancy Drew mysteries that I had not read as a child. Nope. I also started Call of the Wild by Jack London. No dice; gave up after two pages. So I settled on Beatrix Potter.
These books (I also read The Tale of Peter Rabbit) are simple stories designed to be read by or to very young children. They are a delight, but the illustrations are the really wonderful thing about these books. Highly recommended if you have a young child in your life, or if you just want a lovely little book to read for an hour or so.
These books (I also read The Tale of Peter Rabbit) are simple stories designed to be read by or to very young children. They are a delight, but the illustrations are the really wonderful thing about these books. Highly recommended if you have a young child in your life, or if you just want a lovely little book to read for an hour or so.
January 28, 2016
contains Squirrel Nutkin, Fierce Rabbit, and my all time favorite, The Roly poly pudding!
Those rats are scary!
Potter always has good lessons for us to learn.
Those rats are scary!
Potter always has good lessons for us to learn.
March 14, 2016
A collection of books that all have a moral in them. Some I cannot figure out :D
January 28, 2018
A wonderful book.
October 12, 2019
Fjórar sögur eftir Betrix Potter með upphaflegum myndskreytingum. Yndislegur lestur og myndir en kannski er kominn tími til að endurskrifa þær á nútímamáli!
April 4, 2021
To me, the drawings are most compelling. Truly the highlight of this book. They are cute and well done. The stories are charming too.
June 20, 2023
Charming stories.
1. The Tailor of Gloucester
2. The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
3. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
4. The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
1. The Tailor of Gloucester
2. The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
3. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
4. The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
October 15, 2024
The cover is in remarkable condition with some tears and discolouration but the pages are in wonderfully great condition. It is still a joy to read and beautiful to look at even as an adult.
March 20, 2022
Have had this on my shelf for a long time (my mom probably read these to me as a child). I can’t wait to share these with my future children, they’re sweet stories with great messages.
November 28, 2018
"Tales From Beatrix Potter" is a collection of four tales which include "The Tailor Of Gloucester", "The Tale Of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle", "The Tale Of Jemima Puddle-Duck", and "The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies." The stories all share a common theme of animals as well as clothing - animals creating garments, as well as animals wearing them. Though this small fact may have little to do with the moral of each story, it is still worth commenting on.
In "The Tailor Of Gloucester", a hard-working tailor must make a fine coat for the Mayor Of Gloucester. One late night while the tailor is hard at work, after being interrupted by the sound of "tip tap, tip tap, tip tap tip", he discovers mice from underneath the tea cups in his shop. What's more - each of the mice curtsy to him (little events of extraordinary proportions happen throughout Potter's tales). The Tailor Of Gloucester is hardly bothered by this and continues on with his important work. He finally runs out of twist, and sends his cat Simpkin out to get more and to do other chores, which Simpkin does. However, the tailor becomes ill with a fever up until the day the Mayor is due to have his new coat. But, as it turns out, everything is quite ready for him, despite the lost time.
This story, along with the three others in this collection, are accompanied by quaint yet sophisticated illustrations, also by Beatrix Potter. They are paired with Potter's detailed written descriptions of the clothing - along with her acute portrayals of the personalities of each character, whether human or "beast". The drawings are intricate sketches colored in with soft hues, comparative to a candle lit room and the sun when it's light is still bright and soft. They are cute, funny, somber, calming, and dreamlike all at once.
"The Tale Of Mrs. Tiggy-Wiggle"is about a little girl named Lucie who has lost her pocket-handkerchiefs. As she is looking for them outdoors, and after asking all the animals where it is to no avail, she happens upon a tiny door, and when she goes inside she discovers a hedgehog wearing a print gown, petticoat, and apron. Mrs. Tiggy-Wiggle is the hedgehog's name, and she is found tirelessly washing the clothes for all the animals. Lucie helps her finish up and finds that among the items Mrs. Tiggle-Wiggle is washing are her own pocket handkerchiefs, all clean.
These two tales have something to do with creating and doing about them. Making clothes, or washing them, is a task brought to the page with a lighthearted but serious tone. That these materials are something to be taken care of, not spoiled by poor and sloppy hands or the carelessness of the wearer. That materials, such as clothes, are to be appreciated. As for the animals, well, who can say, but they tie these two of Potter's stories together and seem to know more or just the same about it as mortals do.
The last two tales, "The Tale Of Jemima Puddle Duck" and "The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies" take on a slightly darker tone. Jemima Puddle Duck wants to nest her own eggs. She doesn't want the help of anyone else, but she meets a fox who lends her his place to do so. The fox doesn't seem to be trustworthy, but Jemima Puddle Duck doesn't sense this. And when a seemingly kind dog asks for the address of her nesting residence (once she tells him the story) the dog and the puppies to go along with it do not really create the very best ending to this tale. Be wary, the story might warn, by those too quick to offer any help.
"The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies" is a story in which a bunch of baby bunnies almost get killed for their fur by a farmer. Luckily Mrs. Tittlemouse frees them from the bag in which they were captured, and Benjamin and Flopsy (the bunnies' parents) are smart enough to pack the bag with rotten vegetables instead, much to the farmer and his wife's disappointment and ensuing anger. Do not fall asleep aimlessly within the warm grass, the tale might say, for although the open field may be comfortable, it is best to keep an open eye in case danger is about.
In "The Tailor Of Gloucester", a hard-working tailor must make a fine coat for the Mayor Of Gloucester. One late night while the tailor is hard at work, after being interrupted by the sound of "tip tap, tip tap, tip tap tip", he discovers mice from underneath the tea cups in his shop. What's more - each of the mice curtsy to him (little events of extraordinary proportions happen throughout Potter's tales). The Tailor Of Gloucester is hardly bothered by this and continues on with his important work. He finally runs out of twist, and sends his cat Simpkin out to get more and to do other chores, which Simpkin does. However, the tailor becomes ill with a fever up until the day the Mayor is due to have his new coat. But, as it turns out, everything is quite ready for him, despite the lost time.
This story, along with the three others in this collection, are accompanied by quaint yet sophisticated illustrations, also by Beatrix Potter. They are paired with Potter's detailed written descriptions of the clothing - along with her acute portrayals of the personalities of each character, whether human or "beast". The drawings are intricate sketches colored in with soft hues, comparative to a candle lit room and the sun when it's light is still bright and soft. They are cute, funny, somber, calming, and dreamlike all at once.
"The Tale Of Mrs. Tiggy-Wiggle"is about a little girl named Lucie who has lost her pocket-handkerchiefs. As she is looking for them outdoors, and after asking all the animals where it is to no avail, she happens upon a tiny door, and when she goes inside she discovers a hedgehog wearing a print gown, petticoat, and apron. Mrs. Tiggy-Wiggle is the hedgehog's name, and she is found tirelessly washing the clothes for all the animals. Lucie helps her finish up and finds that among the items Mrs. Tiggle-Wiggle is washing are her own pocket handkerchiefs, all clean.
These two tales have something to do with creating and doing about them. Making clothes, or washing them, is a task brought to the page with a lighthearted but serious tone. That these materials are something to be taken care of, not spoiled by poor and sloppy hands or the carelessness of the wearer. That materials, such as clothes, are to be appreciated. As for the animals, well, who can say, but they tie these two of Potter's stories together and seem to know more or just the same about it as mortals do.
The last two tales, "The Tale Of Jemima Puddle Duck" and "The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies" take on a slightly darker tone. Jemima Puddle Duck wants to nest her own eggs. She doesn't want the help of anyone else, but she meets a fox who lends her his place to do so. The fox doesn't seem to be trustworthy, but Jemima Puddle Duck doesn't sense this. And when a seemingly kind dog asks for the address of her nesting residence (once she tells him the story) the dog and the puppies to go along with it do not really create the very best ending to this tale. Be wary, the story might warn, by those too quick to offer any help.
"The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies" is a story in which a bunch of baby bunnies almost get killed for their fur by a farmer. Luckily Mrs. Tittlemouse frees them from the bag in which they were captured, and Benjamin and Flopsy (the bunnies' parents) are smart enough to pack the bag with rotten vegetables instead, much to the farmer and his wife's disappointment and ensuing anger. Do not fall asleep aimlessly within the warm grass, the tale might say, for although the open field may be comfortable, it is best to keep an open eye in case danger is about.
February 1, 2021
Beatrix Potter has a charming collection of animal folktales which are generally independent of one another but sometimes show reoccurring characters and even a little bit of character growth from one story to the next. They are largely playful children's stories but the reader must be warned of the occasionally vicious and morbid aspects of animal life. Predators maul and consume the prey protagonists, families are broken up, and fatalistic futility finds purchase in more than one animal's life story.
July 24, 2011
I loved this as a little girl. It was my favorite book. The tale of Squirrel Nutkin (I even named my kitten Nutkin). The Tale of Two Bad Mice was also one of my favorites (I named my hamster Hunca Munca). Her tales have to be the best stories for children! :)
October 20, 2012
Loved this little book so much that growing up I'd taken my mother's copy as my own and placed it on my own bookshelf. I did have to return it before moving out, but I'll find one of my own someday... :)
August 1, 2011
Adorable children's stories, with great themes, and beautiful pictures.
March 6, 2015
A great classic.
February 26, 2015
I had never read Beatrix Potter previous to this. I've been dying to and my goodness I'm glad I did!! What a silly and sweet collection!! I adored this.
May 3, 2016
Part of my all things Beatrix before we go to see her farmhouse.
December 7, 2016
These are cute, but most are not my jam.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews