The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan

The World of Beatrix Potter #7

by Beatrix Potter

"Once upon a time there was a Pussy-cat called Ribby, who invited a little dog called Duchess, to tea..."

'The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan' features the houses, gardens and streets of the village of Sawrey, where Beatrix Potter lived, at Hill Top, her first farm. The inhabitants, however, are animals rather than people, and problems arise when a singular cat invites a slightly-finnicky dog over to visit.

The landscape that Peter Rabbit first introduced to us in 1902 is still today one of Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved worlds. What started as an endearing story about a bunny rabbit would soon become the first ember for the illustrious series that is 'The World of Beatrix Potter', and a story which has endured retelling after retelling, at bedtimes all over the world.

Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) loved the countryside and spent much of her childhood drawing and studying animals. 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit', first published in 1902, was her first book. She later went on to publish more than twenty tales and collections of rhymes.

Age Rating: 3–12+ / Preschool - 2+ / Lexile Measure N/A

Genres: Classics, Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy, Short Stories

64 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1905

About the author

Helen 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.

Reviews

[[ J o ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I wasn't sure if I liked the mix of black-and-white illustrations alongside Beatrix's gorgeous watercolours, but I have been turned completely: they add another dimension, especially to the longer stories, of which I am more fond of. Her shorter stories are fine, but you don't get her enthusiasm for nature quite as much as you do in her longer ones.

My favourite thing about Beatrix's stories is she doesn't shy away from the darker side of nature: here it is less so, as a cat and a dog are personified almost to the point of them being human. Usually I dislike personified animals; in particular I dislike anthropomorphied animals intensely, but Beatrix seems to do it really well. Maybe it's the cute little outfits, I don't know. Probably helps.

I have no reason other than the beautiful watercolours of Duchess the dog surrounded by flowers in her garden for giving this 4 stars. The story was a little bit meh and not Beatrix's best, but that picture will stay with me forever. I love it to pieces.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, in today's world (if we had talking cats and dogs who invited each other over for tea, that is) Duchess the Dog would simply have informed Ribby that Cat that she was allergic to mouse, and then none of this mess would have happened.

Also, even allowing for a world in which dogs and cats invite each other over for tea with great courtesy, and where magpie doctors can be easily found and pursuaded to drop everything and come to take a look at an ill guest, I do find it a little far-fetched that that Duchess would seriously think she had accidentally swallowed an entire patty pan without noticing! Not to mention that a qualified doctor, albeit a magpie, would think such a thing was anatomically possible!

[☾❀Apple✩ Blossom⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

when the little doggie balanced the sugar 😭

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat, Ribby, invites dog, Duchess, to tea, promising a tasty pie. Duchess is worried that Ribby’s pie may contain mouse, and prepares her own mouse-free patty pan pie to be snuck into Ribby’s oven before teatime. Ribby has two ovens, and places her (of course, mouse) pie in the lower one. While she is out gathering the rest of the food for teatime, Duchess creeps into Ribby’s house and places her veal and bacon pie in the upper oven. At the appointed time, Duchess goes to tea at Ribby’s and is delighted with the scrumptious pie that she is served, but is alarmed at finding no patty pan in it to keep the crust elevated. She believes she has swallowed it. Ribby says she never uses patty pans nor other metal items in her pies, but as Duchess becomes more anxious, Ribby goes to get the doctor. Meanwhile, Duchess finds her pie – uneaten – in the top oven, with the patty pan still inside. She realises she has eaten mouse pie after all. She hides her pie outside, ready to collect when she leaves. The doctor arrives, and leaves when not needed. When Duchess leaves, she finds the doctor and some magpies eating her pie, and runs home. Ribby comes out later and sees a smashed empty pie dish, and a patty pan. She resolves not to ask Duchess to tea again.
Important notes: the two pie dishes are identical, hence the confusion, and you need to understand what a patty pan is (I didn’t till I read this book, still a bit unsure))
Morals: 1) always let the host know of any food allergies, intolerances and dislikes that you have BEFORE you go to a meal. You will cause much less offence that way. There is nothing worse than spending hours preparing what you feel is your pièce-de-resistance, only to discover your guest cannot stomach it.
2) sometimes you may have a false preconceived idea about how bad a food might be/taste. You don’t know till you’ve tried it – best if you don’t know in advance what a dish contains (though possible allergens must always be stated).

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a weird sort of story. It's about a dinner party and it's all about the guest of the dinner party messing with the food of the host. It feels like the story is selling deceit. The pie in question is a mouse pie and the little dog doesn't want to eat mouse pie. The kids didn't seem to be as into this one. My nephew does like cats so he enjoyed the cat art.

[Kimberley doruyter · Rating 5 out of 5]

a cat and dog having afternoon tea, if only.

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tale involving a pussy-cat named Ribby and a lovely little dog named Duchess. And Ribby invites Duchess to tea, an invitation that Duchess accepts with the proviso that the something delicious promised by Ribby does not include mouse in it!

And, along with a dual oven, one top, one bottom, this turns out to be the crux of the story. Ribby and Duchess shop for their ingredients, meet in the shops but don't speak because they are too wrapped up in what they are doing! Ribby rushes home, prepares everything and puts her pie in the bottom oven and goes upstairs to change her dress.

In the meantime Duchess sneaks into Ribby's kitchen, opens the top oven and slips in her pie that she has made so as to be assured of something that she likes. When Duchess returns to the kitchen she notices some things out of place but does not realise what has happened.

Later the twosome sit down to tea and both wonder what the smells coming from the piesare. Are they veal and ham or mouse and bacon? They eat and Duchess asks about the patty-pan, a question that bewilders Ribby ... and they finish their meal in complete confusion, even when they are washing up!

This is not my favourite Beatrix Potter tale, two stars, but four stars for the delightful illustrations make it a three-star read.

[Galy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short story about a cat and a dog who are friends.

A cat called Ribby invited her friend Duchess who is a dog to her house to tea. Ribby told her she made a special pie for her and Duchess was worried that she wouldn't liked it very much.

It was lovely and fun, I really enjoyed it.

Poor Duchess was so worried and I was a bit sad by the ending.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pie and the Patty Pan deserves much more love! It is a comedy of both errors and manners, with the added benefit of beautiful illustrations and a lovably flighty little dog as its heroine.
The writing is clever too, and I never even noticed the jokes about Dr. Maggotty and locking up the spoons until recently(since the doctor is a magpie and would naturally be distracted by anything shiny).

I don't dare spoil any more of this little book's surprises, so suffice it to say that this is one of my favorite Beatrix Potter books and one I would recommend even to those who claim little interest in talking animal stories!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC School Radio:
One morning Duchess the dog receives a letter from Ribby the cat inviting her to tea. Duchess is pleased to accept, but then she remembers her friend will be cooking mouse pie...and Duchess doesn’t like mouse pie, not one bit! So she devises a plan to replace Ribby’s pie in the oven with her own freshly made ham pie. It’s the perfect plan, or so she thinks...

[Binibining `E (of The Ugly Writers) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mouse and Bacon pie anyone??

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatrix Poter is always a win.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all: mystery, drama, animals who wear dresses and walk around on their hind legs. What *did* happen to that patty pan? Was there *really* mouse in that pie? And where on earth did Dr. Maggotty go to medical school *anyway*????

[Izida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Поредната сладурска книжка от поредицата "Детство мое".
Посмях се и ми се дояде пай с бекон, препоръчвам :D

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have arranged my takeaway thoughts into a haiku:

"Friends who get muddied
Traversing red-tape manners
Only make things worse."

[Laven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda confused... but, Mouse and Bacon pie anyone?

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story, utilizing both a comedy of errors and a comedy of manners tropes. Through no fault of its own, I’m not sure this story works for children anymore. Much of the comedy revolves around the lost art of making pies at home. Many children will not understand a lot of what is going on in this story. (Probably many adults as well.)

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ribby the Cat invites Duchess the dog to eat a (British) pie, before worrying that she would have to eat a pie which she did not want, further confused by Duchess eating a pie early, eventually resulting in mix-up leaving both characters confused. Similar to the Tailor of Gloucester, this story is relatively complex when compared to the Peter Rabbit series. Readers unfamiliar with British cultures might need explanation that British pies can include fruit or meat. Readers seeking a comedy of misunderstandings and social etiquette should be amused.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very funny, a poor little dog with poor doggy manners has a dietary predicament, she's mus-intolerant, so how in the world is she to stomach a mouse pie? This is not the best book to read to rodents, unless they have a very dark sense of humor.

[xenya]

re-reading one's favorite beatrix potter story is like receiving a warm cup of tea, a soft blanket around the shoulders, and a gentle hug all at once.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uh, oh! It’s a case of mixed up pies and having your own trick outwit you in the end. Fun!

Ages: 3 - 8

[Suchona Hasnat · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this has been my most favourite beatrix potter story. 🥹

[Tiziana]

Come dirlo in maniera elegante?
Not my cup of tea

[Rebecca ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

the drama

[Debalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It perhaps is the most ‘for-adult’ book by Beatrix Potter that I have ever read. It was fun.

Happy reading! 🙃

[Hager Moharram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a silly dog

[Pouline Bjerregaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of good intentions and mix-ups, and how these good intentions may bite us in the bum, if we are not grateful for them. The Tale Of The Pie And The Patty-Pan sees Ribby, previously introduced in The Tale Tale Of Samuel Whiskers, hosting a tea party. Unfortunately the guest doesn't not have the same taste as Ribby, so a mix-up of pies ensures the hillarity of the story, as the pie of the guest contains a tin patty-pan, whereas the pie made by Ribby does not.
Its' humour is light-hearted and fun, just as children's books should be.

[Dione Basseri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Generally, Potter's stories are greatly improved by the artwork. They're lively and soft and just a wonderfully sort of...kind look at the world. This book...the artwork just feels so off. Perhaps it's the dog. Generally, Duchess the Dog just looks off. I think it's because of the lack of clothing, combined with the upright stature. Potter most often either does unclothed animals walking on all fours or clothed animals on hind legs. Seeing the dog unclothed and on back legs is weird. It could also be how fluffy the dog is. It doesn't really look right, in Potter's style.

The story itself is okay. A fair bit amusing, as the dog and cat deal with their little differences. That is, as the cat doesn't care what's going on and the dog manages to mess up everything.

You'll likely need to explain to your child what a "patty-pan" is, as I cook a lot and I still had no idea they were even a thing. I pretty much immediately was able to visualize one of the little plastic tables used in pizza boxes, which isn't too far off from the real thing, but I was certainly puzzled for a while.

While you can buy Potter stories individually, I have to advocate for getting a complete or near-complete collection of her stories. While this story will entertain most children for one or two readings, it does not shine unless taken in with the rest of Potter's works. And make absolutely sure you get one a collection with the original illustrations of Beatrix Potter herself. Her genius was not just in text, but in her visual storytelling. The watercolor technique in general is quite difficult and unforgiving, but Potter seems to have practiced it with as much ease as if she's gone into a countryside with a modern camera. Crisp and lively, these pictures are true works of art.

Keep in mind, all of Beatrix Potter's works are in the public domain! You can find fairly cheap copies out there, since royalties don't need to be paid to anyone. Just double-check quality before putting your money down.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this mysterious tale the story of a friendship between a cat and a dog goes wrong when they get together for a party. While the cat enjoys mouse pie, the dog is more interested in ham and veal and claims mouse makes her very ill. However, the dog of course does not want to be rude so he sneaks in his own pie and tries to trick her friend. This does not go well for the dog in the end.

The tale is set up like any classic tale loved by many children. What I found interesting was that the relationship between the characters was not fixed in the end, both characters just simply learned the truth on their own and what they may do better next time. However, I did notice that the cats solution to the problem was to not invite a dog to a party in the future which may not be the best example for young readers.

The illustrations in the book are done in black and white which again adds to the mood of a Peter Rabbit Tale. The images are sketched which gives it an old fashioned feel as well. I would recommend this book to be read aloud to young children who understand the meanings of the book because the reading level is quite difficult. It is also great for more advanced readers to read on their own. I think the author did a great job with the classic, short and sweet tale of the cat and the dog.

[Melle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I'm finding with most Beatrix Potter stories, this is a messed-up little tale involving deception. Duchess the little black dog is invited to have pie (meat pie, of course -- thank you, Britain) by Ribby the brown tabby cat, but Duchess doesn't let Ribby know she doesn't want mouse and then goes about trying to avoiding eating mouse and generally wreaking havoc. The illustrations are cute but entirely unbelievable (a cat in a dress - ha!).

Zelda did not care for this book or the ideas it put in my head about putting her in a dress.