Into the Forest discussion

So I have finally started to really read Beatrix Potter. I'm not sure why I left it so late, but anyway. Not only are tales very much in the tradition of folk tales (they remind of Just So Stories), but they are very, very amusing. There seems to be a whole other level to them than just kid stories. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

I loved these stories she wrote (as a child) and had always intended to revisit them as an adult. I cannot remember details well enough to comment on your question. Maybe her complete works would make a great group read in the future.

On a slightly different note, I very much enjoyed the movie "Miss Potter". If one is looking for nice film to watch about a wonderful author/artist.

Haha is right. I got several of her stories free, now I want to go buy a nice edition of her complete works.

Hello... This is the very first comment I have made in this group, I am incredibly glad to be here, but please be gentle as I settle in ;)

I adored The Tales of Beatrix Potter as a child; my heart still swells for Mrs. Tiggy Winkle! In actual fact I have recently welcomed the opportunity to revisit each delightful little character story as one of my friends, who last year gave birth to a daughter, is a huge fan also and I decided, that rather than buy her a selection of the wonderfully petite editions to celebrate her birth, that I would get cross-stitching! A really gorgeous little cast of country folk now decorate her bedroom wall...

Another (more contemporary) animal-magic author and illustrator I adored was Jill Barklem. I highly recommend The Secret Staircase, Autumn Story and Winter Story; the illustrations are so detailed, so inviting, that one can get utterly lost in them!

I adore Beatrix Potter! In fact, my mother hid the the book once when I was growing up because she got so tired of reading me the tale of Peter Rabbit. Another personal favorite I remember is The Tale of Tom Kitten. Something about that mischievious little cat always appealed to me.

The stories are so well written and the watercolor illustrations (done by the author) are beautiful. One of my all time favorite collections of short stories, and definitely one that can be read and enjoyed by children of all ages.


And about the whole different level, it isn't as noticable in some of the stories, but it really comes through in others, like the Tale of Pigling Bland and The Tailor of Gloucester.

Happy Reading!

I love Mrs Tiggly Winkle and welcome Fiona.

Raven, I haven't read those two, yet. But in the tale of Timmy Toptoes and in The Ginger and Pickles there is a lot going on.

You might want to check out Don't Tell the Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children's Literature for there is a whole chapter on Potter.

Thanks for the link Chris, and your kind 'welcome',

I quite enjoyed reading The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales; I feel that this book might also be helpful to link into this discussion...

It is an important book. Anyone else read it?

I have not. But, will be in the future now that I know of it.

It has been many years since I read it, but when I find the right moment to re-visit this book I will certainly write and post a review.

I think Potter's best tale is The Tailor of Gloucester

Somehow I missed these stories when I was a child!

I know the director of Miss Potter, he read a film script of mine. A very lovely gentleman Chris Noonan.

Yes, he liked it but due to other commitments could not do my film. And the one he had in mind did not happen for a variety of reasons.

I have Mads Christiansen, a well-known Hollywood actor, 'Casino Royal' to name one of his acting credits considering my current, and to date, only, novel, for a film.

you would probably enjoy Susan Wittig Albert's series on the life of beatrix potter. very fairy-tale-esque w/ talking animals to boot ;)

Beatrix potter is has such a good imagination, I have always loved her books. When I was little, I was ADDICTED to the book "Peter Rabbit", the classic. I also loved the Miss Tiggywinkle the one with the hedgehog.