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The World of Beatrix Potter: Peter Rabbit #14
Зайчетата Каламбичета
Казват, че преяждането с маруля има „сънотворно въздействие”. Лично на мен не ми се е доспивало след ядене на марули, но аз, разбира се, не съм заек. Няма съмнение, че тяхното въздействие върху зайчетата каламбичета беше твърде сънотворно.
30 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1909
About the author
Beatrix Potter
2,743 books1,986 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.
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April 2, 2024
The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies is the fourteenth book in Beatrix Potter's famous series of 23 little children's books, which are mainly about animals. The author wrote these between 1902–1930, and they were published by Frederick Warne. She had already written two full-length tales with a rabbit as the central character, for this publisher, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny", and felt reluctant to write another. However, the demand from her young audience was so great, that she wrote The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies, featuring both Peter and Benjamin, and adding new characters. It was published in 1909.
The watercolour depictions of the garden in the background are simply beautiful, and considered to be some of the finest illustrations Beatrix Potter created. For her inspiration here, she had looked to a semi-formal garden of archways and flowerbeds at the home of her aunt and uncle in Wales. It is perhaps no surprise that Beatrix Potter's illustrations are so carefully executed, and so detailed. She had been a respected watercolourist, illustrating plant life, insects, fossils and various archaeological artefacts, as well as the pets and small animals she had always painted, even as a child. Prior to these books featuring rabbits, she had also previously, in 1893, illustrated the "Uncle Remus" stories by Joel Chandler Harris. However, the rabbits invented by Beatrix Potter are very different from Joel Chandler Harris's cunning and wily character of "Brer Rabbit". Beatrix Potter's rabbits are from a gentler world. They are equally keen to have adventures, and are full of mischief, but they are mostly motivated by a sense of fun.
This story is a perfect example. It has danger certainly, and a few heart-stopping moments. But there is little sense of planning in the trickery; it is more a case of "turning the tables" and playing tricks on the big people, in a strong mischievous spirit which young children will recognise and love. There is also another life lesson here too for youngsters. We learn that it was the importunance of the parents, their constant having to "borrow" from Flopsy's brother Peter, which led to their young being put into great danger.
But the story is a light hearted one for all that. The book starts,
“It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 'soporific'.”
And because the author has introduced a word which few children listening to this will ever have encountered, she quickly goes on to explain (with a definition) in a chummy way,
“I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit.”
And opposite the text, we have a naturalistic illustration of several little rabbits, all asleep on their backs against a lettuce plant. Perfect!
The book instantly flashes back to how Benjamin Bunny had married his Cousin Flopsy, and being very "improvident and cheerful" the consequence was ... quite a lot of little "Flopsy Bunnies". In fact they had not always enough cabbages to go round their large family, so often used to ask for some from Flopsy's brother, who was, (fanfare please!) Peter Rabbit. But when Peter had no cabbages to spare, we all know who he had to get them from ... Mr. McGregor.
The story follows all the nameless little Flopsy Bunnies (there are too many to remember their names, the author assures us) as they go scavenging in Mr. Mcgregor's rubbish heap, finding enough lettuces to make them very drowsy indeed, and to have to indulge in a little nap. I particularly enjoyed the picture of Peter Rabbit, complete with paper bag over his head to keep off the flies! But when Mr. McGregor returns and empties some lawn clippings over the little Flopsy Bunnies, he spies what might be the tips of six little pairs of ears peeping out and ...
Oh calamity! These six little rabbits are destined for the pot! How they eventually escape, is down to a new character, brave little Thomasina Tittlemouse, a woodmouse with a long tail (and very sharp teeth). Mrs. Tittlemouse is herself honoured, featuring as the central character in a book the following year.
The ensuing adventure is very exciting, as we follow the distress of Flopsy (wondering where all her little bunnies have disappeared to), the clever contrivances of Benjamin and Thomasina, the glee of Mr. McGregor, followed by a scolding by his wife, who had ambitious but nasty plans on what to use the rabbits for, and accused her husband of having "done it a purpose". It ends with a very crestfallen Mr. McGregor, and a cute little codicil, about how the Flopsy Bunnies rewarded Thomasina Tittlemouse.
The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies has all the classic hallmarks of one of the best Beatrix Potter stories. It is a timeless story of danger and friendship. Little children will hug themselves, first with fear as the rabbits are in danger of their lives, and then with glee as Mr. McGregor is outwitted. The pictures beautifully illustrate how all the animals watch as their plan goes into action.
We used to visit the Lake District every year, to try some of the more gentle climbs up the fells. We stayed in a guest house in Near Sawrey. Just along the road is another little village called Far Sawrey, where we sometimes visited Beatrix Potter's house "Hill Top". Her furnishings are still there and much of her memorabilia. Beatrix Potter had bought "Hill Top", in her beloved Lake District, in 1905 with the profits from her books and a small legacy left to her by her aunt. A working farm, which she continued to maintain all her life, "Hill Top" soon became a retreat, and her home away from London, as Beatrix Potter established her life and career there.
After three years in her new home, Beatrix Potter wrote a four-page letter with illustrations of the rabbits in her garden at "Hill Top", to one of her young fans, “dear little William Warner”. She said that she was “trying dreadfully hard to think about another story about ‘Peter’” because “all the little boys and girls like the rabbits best”. But so far she hadn't managed to think of one.
“I thinked and thinked and thinked last year; but I didn’t think enough to fill a book! … So I made a story about Jemima Puddleduck instead – and it will be in the shops very soon. I hope you will like it.”
“The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck” was number twelve in the series, and was published in 1908. Only a few months later, in the autumn of 1908, Beatrix Potter wrote to her publisher Harold Warne saying that she had several ideas for new books. These included the book which is reviewed here, The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies, which was intended as a sequel to "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny", as it featured Benjamin's offspring, the Flopsy Bunnies. Another tale she sent Warne was about the village shop in Far Sawrey. That story eventually became the next one, "The Tale of Ginger and Pickles", number fifteen in the series. Both books were subsequently published after the letter, during the next year, 1909.
Spurred on by the fact that the very letter to “dear little William” is to be auctioned this weekend, I read this little book, and was enchanted. Here is the final page of the letter. What a privileged little boy William Warne was, to be sure!
Last time we visited "Hill Top", we wandered around the pretty cottage garden. It has a large vegetable patch, which is maintained much as it would have been when Beatrix Potter lived there. The carrots, lettuces and radishes all grow in neat rows, exactly as if Mr. McGregor had just popped inside for a moment. It is so very easy to imagine the tips of a few furry "Flopsy Bunny" ears sticking up out of a pile of grass clippings. Or a glimpse of Benjamin's bright little eyes in a furry face peeping out at you from behind the lettuces.
Or perhaps ... just maybe ... it is not merely the imagination at work.
The watercolour depictions of the garden in the background are simply beautiful, and considered to be some of the finest illustrations Beatrix Potter created. For her inspiration here, she had looked to a semi-formal garden of archways and flowerbeds at the home of her aunt and uncle in Wales. It is perhaps no surprise that Beatrix Potter's illustrations are so carefully executed, and so detailed. She had been a respected watercolourist, illustrating plant life, insects, fossils and various archaeological artefacts, as well as the pets and small animals she had always painted, even as a child. Prior to these books featuring rabbits, she had also previously, in 1893, illustrated the "Uncle Remus" stories by Joel Chandler Harris. However, the rabbits invented by Beatrix Potter are very different from Joel Chandler Harris's cunning and wily character of "Brer Rabbit". Beatrix Potter's rabbits are from a gentler world. They are equally keen to have adventures, and are full of mischief, but they are mostly motivated by a sense of fun.
This story is a perfect example. It has danger certainly, and a few heart-stopping moments. But there is little sense of planning in the trickery; it is more a case of "turning the tables" and playing tricks on the big people, in a strong mischievous spirit which young children will recognise and love. There is also another life lesson here too for youngsters. We learn that it was the importunance of the parents, their constant having to "borrow" from Flopsy's brother Peter, which led to their young being put into great danger.
But the story is a light hearted one for all that. The book starts,
“It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 'soporific'.”
And because the author has introduced a word which few children listening to this will ever have encountered, she quickly goes on to explain (with a definition) in a chummy way,
“I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit.”
And opposite the text, we have a naturalistic illustration of several little rabbits, all asleep on their backs against a lettuce plant. Perfect!
The book instantly flashes back to how Benjamin Bunny had married his Cousin Flopsy, and being very "improvident and cheerful" the consequence was ... quite a lot of little "Flopsy Bunnies". In fact they had not always enough cabbages to go round their large family, so often used to ask for some from Flopsy's brother, who was, (fanfare please!) Peter Rabbit. But when Peter had no cabbages to spare, we all know who he had to get them from ... Mr. McGregor.
The story follows all the nameless little Flopsy Bunnies (there are too many to remember their names, the author assures us) as they go scavenging in Mr. Mcgregor's rubbish heap, finding enough lettuces to make them very drowsy indeed, and to have to indulge in a little nap. I particularly enjoyed the picture of Peter Rabbit, complete with paper bag over his head to keep off the flies! But when Mr. McGregor returns and empties some lawn clippings over the little Flopsy Bunnies, he spies what might be the tips of six little pairs of ears peeping out and ...
Oh calamity! These six little rabbits are destined for the pot! How they eventually escape, is down to a new character, brave little Thomasina Tittlemouse, a woodmouse with a long tail (and very sharp teeth). Mrs. Tittlemouse is herself honoured, featuring as the central character in a book the following year.
The ensuing adventure is very exciting, as we follow the distress of Flopsy (wondering where all her little bunnies have disappeared to), the clever contrivances of Benjamin and Thomasina, the glee of Mr. McGregor, followed by a scolding by his wife, who had ambitious but nasty plans on what to use the rabbits for, and accused her husband of having "done it a purpose". It ends with a very crestfallen Mr. McGregor, and a cute little codicil, about how the Flopsy Bunnies rewarded Thomasina Tittlemouse.
The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies has all the classic hallmarks of one of the best Beatrix Potter stories. It is a timeless story of danger and friendship. Little children will hug themselves, first with fear as the rabbits are in danger of their lives, and then with glee as Mr. McGregor is outwitted. The pictures beautifully illustrate how all the animals watch as their plan goes into action.
We used to visit the Lake District every year, to try some of the more gentle climbs up the fells. We stayed in a guest house in Near Sawrey. Just along the road is another little village called Far Sawrey, where we sometimes visited Beatrix Potter's house "Hill Top". Her furnishings are still there and much of her memorabilia. Beatrix Potter had bought "Hill Top", in her beloved Lake District, in 1905 with the profits from her books and a small legacy left to her by her aunt. A working farm, which she continued to maintain all her life, "Hill Top" soon became a retreat, and her home away from London, as Beatrix Potter established her life and career there.
After three years in her new home, Beatrix Potter wrote a four-page letter with illustrations of the rabbits in her garden at "Hill Top", to one of her young fans, “dear little William Warner”. She said that she was “trying dreadfully hard to think about another story about ‘Peter’” because “all the little boys and girls like the rabbits best”. But so far she hadn't managed to think of one.
“I thinked and thinked and thinked last year; but I didn’t think enough to fill a book! … So I made a story about Jemima Puddleduck instead – and it will be in the shops very soon. I hope you will like it.”
“The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck” was number twelve in the series, and was published in 1908. Only a few months later, in the autumn of 1908, Beatrix Potter wrote to her publisher Harold Warne saying that she had several ideas for new books. These included the book which is reviewed here, The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies, which was intended as a sequel to "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny", as it featured Benjamin's offspring, the Flopsy Bunnies. Another tale she sent Warne was about the village shop in Far Sawrey. That story eventually became the next one, "The Tale of Ginger and Pickles", number fifteen in the series. Both books were subsequently published after the letter, during the next year, 1909.
Spurred on by the fact that the very letter to “dear little William” is to be auctioned this weekend, I read this little book, and was enchanted. Here is the final page of the letter. What a privileged little boy William Warne was, to be sure!
Last time we visited "Hill Top", we wandered around the pretty cottage garden. It has a large vegetable patch, which is maintained much as it would have been when Beatrix Potter lived there. The carrots, lettuces and radishes all grow in neat rows, exactly as if Mr. McGregor had just popped inside for a moment. It is so very easy to imagine the tips of a few furry "Flopsy Bunny" ears sticking up out of a pile of grass clippings. Or a glimpse of Benjamin's bright little eyes in a furry face peeping out at you from behind the lettuces.
Or perhaps ... just maybe ... it is not merely the imagination at work.
February 18, 2020
i wonder if those poor flopsy bunnies knew how close they got to being eten
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April 25, 2019
It is said that the effect of eating too much chocolate is "soporific".
I have never felt sleepy after eating chocolate, but then I am not a lightweight. (The effect is most likely known as "diabetes", however.)
I also did not grow up to marry my cousin, which-though possibly legal-is not a sufficient enough gap in the gene pool to stop the potential of a sixth or seventh finger. But Benjamin Bunny doesn't care for all of that. He married his cousin and also probably his sister, as well.
Which explains his children's lack of stamina. Woe betide any rabbit that cannot handle his lettuce. Woe betide also Mr Mcgregor who seems to have no luck, be it with catching rabbits or doing right by his wife.
I have never felt sleepy after eating chocolate, but then I am not a lightweight. (The effect is most likely known as "diabetes", however.)
I also did not grow up to marry my cousin, which-though possibly legal-is not a sufficient enough gap in the gene pool to stop the potential of a sixth or seventh finger. But Benjamin Bunny doesn't care for all of that. He married his cousin and also probably his sister, as well.
Which explains his children's lack of stamina. Woe betide any rabbit that cannot handle his lettuce. Woe betide also Mr Mcgregor who seems to have no luck, be it with catching rabbits or doing right by his wife.
March 14, 2022
Poor Flopsy! Seven children, so many they are just referred to be everyone as the collective Flopsy Bunnies. Her charming but reckless husband can't keep the family fed, her brother has no food to spare from his garden. Of course, McGregor's got food in his garden.
How much more of this constant uncertainty and terror must she endure? I'm sorry, but if someone were to write these stories from her perspective, just think of how much different the mood would be. Actually, her harrowing experience of these adventures with the same illustrations would be hilarious.
Library copy
How much more of this constant uncertainty and terror must she endure? I'm sorry, but if someone were to write these stories from her perspective, just think of how much different the mood would be. Actually, her harrowing experience of these adventures with the same illustrations would be hilarious.
Library copy
February 15, 2012
Soporific. But in this specific case, it's a compliment.
__________________________________________
I must share with you this wonderful passage from John Evelyn's Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets (1699), quoted in McGee's On Food and Cooking:
__________________________________________
I must share with you this wonderful passage from John Evelyn's Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets (1699), quoted in McGee's On Food and Cooking:
... by reason of its soporifous qualities, lettuce ever was, and still continues the principal foundation of the universal tribe of Sallets, which is to cool and refresh, besides its other properties, which include beneficial influences on morals, temperance and chastity.I still have a few reservations about the Flopsy Bunnies' morals, but I would not dare cast aspersions on their temperance or chastity.
June 22, 2021
Beautiful watercolour depictions that were created between 1920 - 1930 and are still as relevant today.
The story is light-hearted and sweet about Rabbits. Benjamin Bunny marries his cousin Flopsy and their children venture into Mr Mc Gregors garden who is a scary farmer and find lots of lettuces, they obviously tuck in and end up falling asleep with their bellies full. What happens? You'll have to read it to find out.
Could be a little scary for some children. Lots of mischief and merriment and obviously lots of learning points for children.
I received this as a gift along with others in the set. For some reason these books escaped me in my childhood. They are simply lovely and Beatrix Potter was a genius.
The story is light-hearted and sweet about Rabbits. Benjamin Bunny marries his cousin Flopsy and their children venture into Mr Mc Gregors garden who is a scary farmer and find lots of lettuces, they obviously tuck in and end up falling asleep with their bellies full. What happens? You'll have to read it to find out.
Could be a little scary for some children. Lots of mischief and merriment and obviously lots of learning points for children.
I received this as a gift along with others in the set. For some reason these books escaped me in my childhood. They are simply lovely and Beatrix Potter was a genius.
December 22, 2018
I loved this, but why, just why, did two close cousins have to get married and have children? I get that they're not humans, but that's still weird.
October 29, 2012
One of my most prized possessions is my ‘Tales of Peter Rabbit and Friends’ box set. I remember my Mum and Dad reading the stories to me before bedtime, and when I became a more confident reader I would sit and read the books for hours, admiring the beautiful illustrations. In fact, sometimes I just looked at the pictures because I loved them so much.
One of my favourites from the collection has to be ‘The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies’. This is a story of Benjamin Bunny’s children. They venture into Mr. McGregor's (scary farmer) garden and find lots of overgrown lettuces. Amazed by their find, they decide to eat way too many lettuces and end up falling asleep. When tragedy strikes and the little bunnies go missing, Benjamin and Flopsy do everything they can to find their children.
Although there are a few peculiar elements within the book (Benjamin is married to his cousin Flopsy); I particularly like the theme of greediness and mischievousness that runs through this book. The plot is simple but still captures the attention of children with a few scary moments between pages. The traditional water-coloured illustrations are adorable and really compliment the story well.
I fully intend to make use of this box set and read the stories aloud to Key Stage 1 and possibly early Key Stage 2 children.
One of my favourites from the collection has to be ‘The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies’. This is a story of Benjamin Bunny’s children. They venture into Mr. McGregor's (scary farmer) garden and find lots of overgrown lettuces. Amazed by their find, they decide to eat way too many lettuces and end up falling asleep. When tragedy strikes and the little bunnies go missing, Benjamin and Flopsy do everything they can to find their children.
Although there are a few peculiar elements within the book (Benjamin is married to his cousin Flopsy); I particularly like the theme of greediness and mischievousness that runs through this book. The plot is simple but still captures the attention of children with a few scary moments between pages. The traditional water-coloured illustrations are adorable and really compliment the story well.
I fully intend to make use of this box set and read the stories aloud to Key Stage 1 and possibly early Key Stage 2 children.
March 9, 2022
Ilustraciones preciosas as always, nada que decir 10/10
Hablando de la historia en sí, es más bien simple y por lo mismo no logré conectar como con los otros cuentos de esta saga, los conejitos bebés ni siquiera tienen nombre :c
Hablando de la historia en sí, es más bien simple y por lo mismo no logré conectar como con los otros cuentos de esta saga, los conejitos bebés ni siquiera tienen nombre :c
June 4, 2022
An entertaining story for the littles!
Ages: 3 - 8
Cleanliness: mentions tobacco.
Ages: 3 - 8
Cleanliness: mentions tobacco.
February 9, 2024
4 stars. We’re always quoting this opening paragraph! It’s a stunner. I love getting to see Benjamin + Flopsy & their babies. The humour is excellent, though I would enjoy it more if Mr. & Mrs. McGregor were nicer to each other, but I suppose they are supposed to be the villains! The illustrations are gorgeous and make me want a garden so much… and like all BP books, this is so much fun to read aloud!
July 25, 2018
Here we see Benjamin Bunny grown up and married with little bunnies of his own. We get the impression that Benjamin was not quite as industrious as he should have been because he seemed to depend on relatives to help provide for his immediate family.
One of these relatives is Peter. Apparently Peter turned out pretty well because in this book he owns his own farm and is prospering. Sometimes he can help Benjamin with extra cabbage, sometimes he has none to spare. Or maybe like all of us, he gets tired of free loading family members taking advantage of his hard work and using the plight of the children as a guilt tool.
But this is a children's book. Sweep away those cynical thoughts.
Benjamin then resorts to thievery. Off he goes to Farmer McGregor's. And here the adventure begins. The Flopsy bunnies are kidnapped (by guess who) and now Benjamin and his wife must figure out how to rescue them.
One of these relatives is Peter. Apparently Peter turned out pretty well because in this book he owns his own farm and is prospering. Sometimes he can help Benjamin with extra cabbage, sometimes he has none to spare. Or maybe like all of us, he gets tired of free loading family members taking advantage of his hard work and using the plight of the children as a guilt tool.
But this is a children's book. Sweep away those cynical thoughts.
Benjamin then resorts to thievery. Off he goes to Farmer McGregor's. And here the adventure begins. The Flopsy bunnies are kidnapped (by guess who) and now Benjamin and his wife must figure out how to rescue them.
July 10, 2017
Great art. Benjamin Bunny is a pappa here and he has little bunnies. They spend a day eating well and sunny when the little bunnies are caught. It was not disturbing to my niece. They do escape and all is well. I enjoyed this little story as did my niece. She wanted to hear another one.
January 1, 2022
It’s a beautiful and emotional story from her collection. Flopsy and Benjamin characters are familiar from the previous stories and they are already close to the heart. And the little bunnies adds so much beauty to the story. The liveliness of the illustrations makes the story so wonderful.
July 11, 2017
This one dark, yo.
July 7, 2019
Such a delightfully sweet story!
December 10, 2018
Set in the future, Benjamin Bunny marries his cousin Flopsy, and their children are nearly captured by Mr. McGregor to be used for his own wife's cloak, before the kids are saved with the help of a new character and friend. This is the third appearance of Mr. McGregor (see: The Tale of Peter Rabbit and the Tale of Benjamin Bunny). Readers sensitive to depictions of the threat of violence or kidnapping may want to avoid this tale. Readers interested in a suspenseful sequel to the Tale of Benjamin Bunny or a story about parents and community members working together to save children, should be entertained by this tale.
August 4, 2021
Another one of Beatrix Potter's quaint little books, this time about little bunnies. Who happens to be the offspring of Benjamin Bunny and Flopsy Rabbit (The cousin and the sister of Peter Rabbit).
The story is very straight forward. As lettuce is soporific for bunnies, that all the bunnies fall asleep after eating from the garbage pile made by Mr. McGregor, only to be snatched by him to be put in a sack. Luckily Mrs. Tittlemouse comes to their aide, and they are free.
Only 3 stars as the story is linear, but one is happy to reencounter characters from previous books and be introduced to a character featured in the next.
The story is very straight forward. As lettuce is soporific for bunnies, that all the bunnies fall asleep after eating from the garbage pile made by Mr. McGregor, only to be snatched by him to be put in a sack. Luckily Mrs. Tittlemouse comes to their aide, and they are free.
Only 3 stars as the story is linear, but one is happy to reencounter characters from previous books and be introduced to a character featured in the next.
December 19, 2022
A lovely story about how the Flopsy bunnies stuffed themselves with overgrown lettuce from Mr McGregor’s rubbish heap, and fell asleep due to the soporific nature of the lettuce. Mr McGregor finds them, pops them in a sack to sell. Their father, Benjamin, and Thomasina Tittlemouse help them escape, and fill the sack with rotten vegetables.
Beautiful colour illustrations throughout.
Incidentally, wild lettuce – Lactuca virosa – is used in Herbal Medicine as a soporific. The lettuce you buy in the shops has been bred to be sweeter, more palatable and not so sleep-inducing, so no worries about eating lettuce and not being able to operate machinery (or drive etc)
Beautiful colour illustrations throughout.
Incidentally, wild lettuce – Lactuca virosa – is used in Herbal Medicine as a soporific. The lettuce you buy in the shops has been bred to be sweeter, more palatable and not so sleep-inducing, so no worries about eating lettuce and not being able to operate machinery (or drive etc)
December 12, 2023
The pictures are nice, and how hilarious and adult the wording is in some places made me giggle out loud. I definitely didn't notice *that* when I was itty-bitty. 🤭 Well. I don't think the kids will notice either.
December 21, 2020
I loved Thomasina Tittlemouse as the hero of The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies.
September 21, 2022
I am totally invested in these books💖✨
They are so beautifully written 🤝💖
They are so beautifully written 🤝💖
August 6, 2022
A classic. Mr McGregor really is the fool in this tale.
December 28, 2021
Why not revisit a children's book in the rain? ✨
We were clearing out our bookshelves and found this...I just had to give it a read! 🥺
We were clearing out our bookshelves and found this...I just had to give it a read! 🥺
August 22, 2017
Whoof. One of the more...not precisely bloody, but certainly perilous of Potter's stories. While foraging in the McGregor garbage heap, the young Flopsy Bunnies fall asleep and are snatched up by the farmer. He intends to kill and skin them, but their father, Benjamin Bunny, manages to get help and save them in good time, and the only damage is one of the bunnies getting smacked with a
root vegetable. Oddly, still a bit dire, but they are bunnies, after all.
Good for a bit of suspense. Especially since this is one of the few stories involving Farmer McGregor where he is clearly the villain. Most other times, the animals are stealing food from his actual farm, but this time, they're eating from the garbage when caught. It makes it a bit easier for backyard farmers to be okay with the story.
While you can buy Potter stories individually, I have to advocate for getting a complete or near-complete collection of her stories. While Mr. Jeremy Fisher 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.
root vegetable. Oddly, still a bit dire, but they are bunnies, after all.
Good for a bit of suspense. Especially since this is one of the few stories involving Farmer McGregor where he is clearly the villain. Most other times, the animals are stealing food from his actual farm, but this time, they're eating from the garbage when caught. It makes it a bit easier for backyard farmers to be okay with the story.
While you can buy Potter stories individually, I have to advocate for getting a complete or near-complete collection of her stories. While Mr. Jeremy Fisher 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.
November 5, 2009
No disrespect to Ms. Potter BUT WHAT was shge thinking???? This sotry reads like a horror show. Come on... 5 wee fluyffy bunnies go out one day in search of some tasty lettuce..... find the compost heap and thing "HUMMMM I hit the lotto"... proceed to much lettuce that NO ONE wants and then take a nice little nap. Along comes the farmer sees 5 wee soft little bodies and snatches them up and throws them in a bag. Luckily someone is paying attention- in a cunning act of heroism...the parents of the victimized rabbits find their babies in the sack and get them out- replacing them with turnips. One evil farmer returns and grabs the bag brining it home to his accomplice in crime (one farmers wife) stating they will be eating bunny stew. Ha, ha on them..... they get turnip's.
Not my style of read. SORRY I like wee fluffy bunnies!!!!!
Not my style of read. SORRY I like wee fluffy bunnies!!!!!
February 19, 2019
2010: This is one of my son's favorite books, and mine too. Mr. McGregor catches the six little flopsy bunnies in a sack, but they escape and make him angry instead.
I don't know why this book isn't more popular. Is it the mention of tobacco, or the mention of the rabbits being skinned and their heads cut off?
2019: My younger son likes this book now too. There are so many words and objects in the story that he's not familiar with, but it's still captivating. I enjoy reading this one to my kids much more than the latest television spin-off.
I don't know why this book isn't more popular. Is it the mention of tobacco, or the mention of the rabbits being skinned and their heads cut off?
2019: My younger son likes this book now too. There are so many words and objects in the story that he's not familiar with, but it's still captivating. I enjoy reading this one to my kids much more than the latest television spin-off.
March 14, 2016
Grimms' Fairy Tales anyone? This book is dark and graphic. This is the story of bunnies who are tossed in a sack and are ready to be skinned and eaten. Fortunately, the bunnies are able to excape, but wow!
February 2, 2015
Reading Beatrix Potter because I saw the movie about her and was delighted by her sensible delicacy and mixture of imagination and pragmatism.
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon 2 February 2015.
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon 2 February 2015.
April 9, 2015
Some very long words for a children's book but I lovely night time read for Minnie :)
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