Beatrix Books

These books were great back in 1909, but now they don't talk to children about their world. They don't even talk about a world of yesteryear in a way that is useful or entertaining. The illustrations are good and can be used to make up a story that is more interesting and understandable to children, but why should this be necessary?

I bought this set for my niece who lives in KS. She will undoubtedly grow to love these stories. Using Amazon was a much cheaper option instead of purchasing in Australia and posting to KS. Also the price was far cheaper too

Very happy all round

This item is Excellent for a child learning about the world. Beatrix Potter's stories are the best way for anyone to learn reading. The best of all is that an adult enjoys this item by feeling like a child again and learning life in the same way. As a retired college teacherI definitely recommend this "Presentation Box 1-23 The World of Peter Rabbit" to EVERYONE who wants to be educated.

This is an older version - the new one is ISBN: 0723257639 and for $60 less!
Beautiful set!

This is a wonderful collection of beautifully written tales that takes you and your child away from the noisy world of tv, electonic games, and tacky animation to a time of innocence and simplicity. These books provide an opportunity to instill a love of reading with your child as you snuggle together to read the mischievous tales of Peter Rabbit. A great find!

An historical yet fictional cozy mystery account of Beatrix Potter's life. After purchasing a farm in the charming english countryside in 1905, Beatrix's characters come to life and help their human solve the mystery. A must have for any Beatrix Potter fan and a definite keeper.

I love all the books in this series. This is as good as the others. Can't wait for more.

I have read the entire series of "Victorian Mysteries" written by Mrs. Albert and her husband under the name of Robin Paige and have found most of the books in that series to be quite good. I was particularly impressed with the entry in that series that featured Beatrix Potter and so I was sure that I would really like this new series that would revolve entirely around the famous author of children's books.

This series is based on Potter's real life purchase of Hill Top Farm in England's Lake District and features not only a captivating set of villagers but also an eclectic group of mystery solving animals. Both the people and the animals of the village are a gossipy bunch and both tend to make mountains out of molehills and spread inaccurate speculation. In the case of this book however these things may be a virtue for although there are several little mysteries running along as secondary plot lines all of the mysteries are quite shallow and could use any weight that the village grapevine might add to them.

It seems to be the style of this author to use the first book in a series as an introductory volume that introduces her readers to both the characters and setting of the series. That is certainly what she has done here for if the depth of the mystery content of this book were a creek one could wade across it without getting the top of ones feet wet. One of the main mysteries in this book for example is that an entire two pounds has gone missing and its disappearance has the ever-domineering Miss Myrtle Crabbe on the warpath. I'm sorry but this is just not the kind of despicable crime that would get the attention of Sherlock Holmes, or even Agatha Raisin for that matter. Now that the setting and characters have been introduced I have high hopes for the next entry and am expecting to find a little bit more meat in that book's mystery stew.

As usual however, Mrs. Albert has a delightful writing style and her ability to create characters that are fanciful but still realistic never ceases to amaze. Her animal characterizations are so good that they rival those of Beatrix Potter herself and include an owl with a recipe book for cooking rat and a cat that is afraid of heights. Add to that a couple of art thieves, a missing Parish register and a mouse that drinks champagne and what you get is a delightfully fun warm fuzzy mystery of the cozy variety. With just a spoonful or two more of actual mystery I think that this author will again have found the recipe for success.

This book was listed as a mystery and, although it begins with a suspicious death, this is not a whodunit. Rather, The Tale of Hill Top Farm is a country tale that follows the life of Beatrix Potter and the townsfolk. There is a very interesting group of people in the book and they are all fictional (with the exception of Beatrix and William Heelis). Basically, Beatrix purchases the Hill Top Farm in the small village of Near Sawrey, and the book follows her interactions and struggles. It is weird - at first - to read a fictional book starring a real-life person; plus, the small animals in the book have spoken lines. The animals talk to the humans, but they can't be heard except to other animals. While some reviewers were put-off by the talking animals, I thought it was a sweet addition, and the animals actually help move the plot along. The story is rather `slow' in the sense that there is no action, really. This is a character-driven book in the small country, so you won't zip through this book at the same pace as an adventure or typical mystery. The book reminded me (a bit) of the Mitford series by Jan Karon, but without the religious messages. Overall, the book is very charming and I'll continuing reading the series.

The Tale of Hill Top Farm is the first of a series which centers around the imagined life of Beatrix Potter, famed author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many other beloved children's books. The facts of her life are adhered to: her growing literary success; her difficult and cold upper class parents; the death from a sudden onset leukemia of her fiance and editor; her purchase of a small farm in the English Lake Country. But, the events surrounding the "mystery" are Susan Wittig Albert's contribution - the excellent description of the countryside and the times (later 1800's), the people, the speech patterns,etc. are done "in the manner of" Beatrix Potter...and well done.

Accustomed as we are to rip-tide quick action packed thrillers, it takes a bit to switch to Ms. Potter's/Ms. Albert's 19th century charm and pace. Don't be put off by the need to "switch gears"...it is a pleasure to have a different pace to a mystery. And the characters, including animals a la Potter, are wonderful.

Wonderful book, as all of Susan Alberts books are. If you haven't started this series, don't delay, they are great.

Family. It's all about family. Beatrix Potter can only have short visits to her farm because her parents don't approve and they need her to run their home in London. Her brother Bertram Potter has escaped to his own farm but he can't escape all the demands of his parents either. Jemima Puddle-duck wants to hatch her own eggs and have children to cherish. Dimity Woodcock has put her chance of love out of her mind because she knows her brother won't approve. A woman made a mistake and a baby is left on Beatrix Potter's doorstep, needing a home. But in August 1908, women didn't always have the freedom to do choose their own path, pick their own mates, or have a career. The Tale of Hawthorn House is a tale of an abandoned child and the impact it has on the residents of New Sawrey.

Once again Albert has crafted a tale that lets us enjoy the English countryside of the Beatrix Potter paintings and the inhabitants of Near Sawrey and its environs. The omniscient point of view allows us to enjoy observing everyone in town and yet be outside the story. This viewpoint can annoy some people but I find it, when used as here as a guide to the story with occasional asides to fill us in, to be amusing and in a way adding to the comfort of the story. There's the story of the humans and that of the animals that populate a village surrounded by farms. Sometimes the threads of their stories cross and affect each other but only the readers get to see how these two tales interact with each other.

The central mystery of who is the baby's mother and why was the child abandoned would normally be moot as the child would be placed in a work house and raised there. Luckily, this child was left on Beatrix Potter's doorstep and thus has an advocate. This is a look at the times, putting faces to the beliefs and prejudices of those times -- that some of those beliefs haven't changed much in the intervening years, or at least not for some people.

Families are something all of us can relate to in one way or another and in The Tale of Hawthorn House. There are the families we're born into, the families that we make for ourselves, and the families that we hope to achieve. Ideals, idealism, roles, and attitudes are important but, at heart, it's all about families.

The Tale of Hawthorn House: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mysteries)

Albert and the Folk score one for the grownups. This "tale" is a melt-in-the-mouth, high-class bon-bon that has one reaching for the next one out of the box. It is genteel excitement with a few catch-on-quick puzzles. Enjoy.

I have truly enjoyed all the stories in this particular series. The characters (both human and animal) are all likeable and well-developed. The mysteries are gentle, and a pleasant change from the stress, blood, and guts of the average new mystery produced. The only other author who I have found to have written anything in a similar vein is Van Reid in his "Moosepath League" novels (also excellent). I hope Ms. Albert keeps these coming, and often! True quality!

I've read this whole series so far (this is the 4th book) and they are very ... cozy to read. The books are definitely not mysteries in the true sense of the word; they have some village intrigue is about all. This book finds Miss Potter searching for the story (and mother) of an abandoned baby. Although we all know Miss Potter is the main character, this installment focused heavily on the story of Dimity/Miles Woodcock/Christopher Kittredge, and not so much on Beatrice. The characters are becoming familiar now, but the best part is that if you're new to the series you don't have to read the back stories - this book can stand alone. The thing that makes this book even better than the previous three is that the animals do much less talking in this book - that was welcome. Although it's fun to 'hear' the animals and have them move the story along, it often gets a bit .. childish. I found myself wondering how many more books will be in this series, as we haven't even reached the point of romance between Beatrice and Will Hellis. Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this title and will be reading the next book.

I purchaced my grandson baby china from wedgwood with Jemina Puddle-Duck pattern on it. I thought a book would be a perfect companion and ordered it. it is a very nice book came very fast to my home and will be a keepsake with the china. (if the china last a little boys childhood).

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck is a wonderful story (for adults perhaps more than for children), and the small hardback edition is wonderful. Recommended.

These are the best little books for children. I bought some of these books when my daughter was little and she is now 32 years old and still has them.the ones I just bought are for her new baby boy, my grandson.I want him to own all of the Beatrix Potter books. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (The World of Beatrix Potter)

Loved it. The recent movie "Miss Potter" made me want to read these books and give them to my 6-year old. Although I am way passed childhood, it was delightful to read the story and admire the beautiful drawings. Definitely a MUST for children in today's world, where childhood seems to have gone out of fashion.

THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK is one of Beatrix Potter's lesser known tales, but it is still a favorite in our house. Jemima is a duck who wishes to hatch her own eggs. Apparently it is common on farms for hens to sit on duck eggs. Ducks in general, and Miss Jemima in particular, do not have the patience to sit on a nest for 28 days, so farmers transfer the eggs to hens. Jemima, however, is quite determined to hatch her own brood, and searches for a calm, quiet place to do so. In a secluded clearing, she meets an elegantly dressed gentleman with a long bushy tail, who is reading a newspaper. Jemima thinks he is mighty civil and handsome, and he is very solicitous of her plight. Jemima takes the sandy colored gentleman up on his offer of a safe, dry place to hatch her eggs. But there is more to this gentleman than meets the eye. Is he really as selfless as he seems?

THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK quietly and deftly teaches children to be wary of strangers. This simple tale completely captures the imagination of young ones as they follow Jemima on her misadventures. As always, it is Ms. Potter's charming illustrations that are the true star of this book. Jemima looks like a real duck, albeit one who is wearing a bonnet and cape. The soft colors and rich detail of the original drawings continue to delight children of all ages.

My three year old has a special affinity to THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK. Whenever the story refers to Jemima's sister-in-law, Mrs. Rebecca Puddle-duck, my wee one says, "That's me, Momma!" Any book that captures the imagination of my little puddle-duck is a winner with me.

I enjoy having multiple tales in one book. The book was in great condition.

This book is a very nice gift. It's of good quality and value for the money.

This book delighted my grandchildren..... and me if I'm honest..... I give it the highest 5 star recommendation for the stories and beautiful illustrations.

Over the years we have purchased many copies of this book from Amazon. Our children were raised on Peter Rabbit stories and loved them. Now, we live in a small town and every time a friend or friends' daughter has a baby we give this Peter Rabbit book as a present for the new baby. Those who have received it tell us they look forward to reading it to their baby. I recommend this book highly.

There are three stories in this book, the first of which is the Tale of Peter Rabbit. I think that this edition could be better organized, given its intended audience: First of all, you need to be able to read the table of contents to know where one story ends and the next begins. Also, the binding is very tight, making it difficult for the "baby-preschool" age group for which it is intended to flip through at the book independently. In my copy, at least, about half the story of Peter Rabbit is included a second time, presumably in error, after the third story. A small child might do better with a smaller, hardbound version.

I absolutely loved the book and was sorry to finish it! Will read again and again. Never knew her story before.

I also bought Miss Potter: The Novel because the film has not been shown in my city except for a one night sneak preview which I missed. I am perplexed and disappointed that the movie had such a limited release. I am glad I bought the novel and enjoyed it very much! I found it charming as I am sure the movie will be as well! I highly recommend you get the novel if you are like me and waiting patiently for it to come to theater or out on DVD!

I purchased this book because I'd missed it in the theaters, I am so glad I did. I could not put it down until the last word and after that I came back and bought other books about Beatrix Potter. This fascinating, creative, headstrong wonderful woman who refused to take "her place" in life and instead lived her life as best she could- inspired me to no end. May we all be as brave.

With Renee Zellwegger's charming smile beaming at me from the local book store's children section, I was irresistibly bewitched into purchasing a copy of "Miss Potter The Novel."

After immersing myself in the tale, I was not disappointed, but I was briefly confused. The story seemed to start off a bit slow and stiff. And then I realized why. This book is not actually written for 9-12 year olds. It is, in fact, a short adult novel based on the life of Beatrix Potter, which seems to have mirrored much of the plot of Sense and Sensibility.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the content of the story. We learn how the creative talents needed to produce such whimsical tales as Peter Rabbit manifest themselves, and how a unique outlook on life can affect artists in both positive and negative ways.

Aside from a couple of sentences containing veiled adult content, the book is fine for both children and adults. If you want an excellent read about following your bliss, look no further.

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) grew up in a cold home during the Edwardian era. Her parents were elderly Unitarians and her brother became an alcoholic. Beatrix retreated to her upstairs bedroom. In that bedroom she began to draw beautiful watercolors in pastel clarity of her little imaginary friends such as Peter Rabbit and his garden friends.
Beatrix was a strong willed person. At the age of 36 her little book on Peter Rabbit was accepted for publication by the firm of F. Warne Co. Though shy Beatrix fell in love with one of the three Warne brothers. She and Norman were planning to be married despite the opposition of her parents. They considered Warne to be in trade and beneath the reclusive spinsterish girl they loved and protected. Tragedy ensued when Norman died.
Beatrix bought Hill Top farm and found love with a local solicitor who like she was interested in preserving England's beautiful landscape. Today her Hill Top farm is owned by the National Trust being open to thousands of tourists.
I hesitated in purchasing this book since it was only a movie-tie-in to the new Renee Zellwegger film. It's author is Richard Maltby who also wrote the film's screenplay. I was charmingly surprised! Maltby has woven this simple and heartwarming story of Miss Potter with charm, wit, pathos and
it is obvious he has a warm spot for Beatrix and her furry friends. "Peter Rabbit" is still the bestselling book for children which has been written in the English language.
If you want to spend a few hours getting to know the complex creative genius Beatrix Potter read this fine little book. A true joy!

This is a fully illustrated short story book about a couple of a rabbits, one good and one a nasty one who bullies the good rabbit. The bad rabbit attacks the Good rabbit and steals his carrot. In turn, the fierce rabbit ended up with losing tails and whiskers when a hunter approached him.

Though short, it's a good book for young kids, equip with moral nurturing story and a fully illustrated pages to company the story. Most kids would love this book, but personally when I was one, I love a bit more longer of a story than this one.

My sons love this book, and they think it is quite funny -- precisely because the Fierce Bad Rabbit gets his comeuppance from a hunter. It's an old-fashioned approach, in that, the rabbit pays the consequences for his bad behavior: he loses his tail, his whiskers, and the carrot he swiped. The illustrations are great. A note on content, since another reviewer mentioned the Roly-Poly Pudding Tale of Samuel Whiskers. My 5-year-old found Samuel Whiskers MUCH more disturbing than this straightforward story. Beatrix Potter's world, from another era, is interesting and entertaining.

This is a very cute story about how being good and being bad has different outcomes. This would teach a very important lesson for young children to learn. The illustrations are also very cute, showing exactly what you'd picture the story being. The good, innocent rabbit is just sitting there with his little carrot, happy to have it to eat. A bad, fierce rabbit is hiding in the bushes, just waiting to pounce on the sweet, little rabbit. All of a sudden, he pounced! That poor sweet one had to go running and hide in a cave. Seeing what happens to the fierce, bad rabbit is very Beatrix Potter like. It is so sweet how it ends, how being good always works out and being bad isn't always going to go your way, no matter what you think.
~Camille

i am a big fan of the fierce bad rabbit, as well as all of beatrix potters works. However, the main characters are better, ( i'm very fond of bunnies) and the outcome and plot are less distrubing than the whole rolly-polly pudding thing, and the patty-pan. Still, one must wonder what social allagorie does "the man with the gun afford". Buy this book, get the whole series, they really are very nice to read, and if you think it would be detrimental to your maturity, buy it for a younger sibling, nephew, niece, cousin, etc. and see if you can bring yourself to give it away. I bet you won't be able to, and if you can, than there is something big wrong with your head...

"The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit" is one of Beatrix Potter's weirder children's books. The plot is set in motion when the nasty title character attacks another rabbit and steals his carrot.

This book is a violent and surreal morality tale. It's not one of my favorite Potter books. A warning to parents: gun violence is depicted in this tale.

I have a number of these Beatrix Potter stories and I love them all. This is one is particularly good for very young children. My 13 mo old can wait for the sentence or two on each page, then help turn the page and get through it without too much impatience. Cute story, too, of course.

THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET is the cute story of a cat name Miss Moppet who's been played by a mouse. Their antics could only remind you to the famous cartoon series Tom and Jerry.

It's a very short story, equip with beautiful water-color illustrations for your enjoyment and to help nurture the children's imagination. Cute plot and good for a quick read.

"The Story of Miss Moppet," by Beatrix Potter, tells the story of a cat who is bedeviled by a mischievous mouse. This being Potter's deliciously warped world, the mouse wears a green jacket and red bow tie.

"Miss Moppet," first published in 1906, can be seen as the ancestor of Tom and Jerry, the Simpsons' Itchy and Scratchy, and every other predator-and-prey comedy carton. Potter creates wacky slapstick comedy out of her characters' antics. And if you own a cat, Miss Moppet's behavior just might ring true. All in all, a delightful classic by a giant of children's literature.

The Story of Miss Mopet is a very good childrens book. The story was about a cat that is bothered by a little mouse.The cat,Miss Mopet, Trys to kill the annoying little mouse. The mouse is clever, the cat is dumb, so when the cat trys to capture the mouse, it fails. Finally , the mouse catches the mouse in a rag. The cat didn't know that the rag had a hole in it.The mouse got away, and continued to annoy the little cat. This was a very good book.

Miss Moppet is certainly one of the cutest of all the Beatrix Potter books. I love the illustrations and recommend this book to any Beatrix Potter fan. Miss Moppet would also appeal to most cat lovers out there. As always, it includes a useful moral to the story.

SWA has found the most clever niche for herself in her Beatrix Potter books; all the readers in my family adore them, we all dream of having such animals around us! I have learned a new respect for the family dog, and now find myself talking to the birds when I am out in the garden. Cannot wait for the next book to be released.

I'm so happy to have discovered the Beatrix Potter mysteries. What a gem! The writing is clever, the characters - both human and animal - are thoroughly engaging, and the author's physical descriptions of the Lake District where the book takes place is first-rate. I love mysteries that take place in small English villages with characters that are so real you feel as though they could walk off the page and enter your life.

The mystery itself is not deep or involved, but the author's engaging writing of English village life more than makes up for it. This is the ideal book to read on a weekend afternoon with a cup of tea and a scone.

It's England in 1905, Beatrix Potter has purchased Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey in the Lake District. Local farmers are upset that the farm is now owned by an outsider and a woman at that. On arrival, Beatrix Potter finds the woman she was to board with, Abigail Tolliver, has died unexpectedly and foul play is suspected. Beatrix rents a room at Belle Greene and begins to get a feel for her farm from Mr. Jennings who she hopes will stay on to run it for her. But the town is uneasy with Miss Tolliver's death, a missing painting, a theft at the school, a head teacher that seem bent on mischief and mayhem, and now a London woman owning a local farm.

Since the book is based on an actual historical figure, Beatrix Potter, the story must fit into the spaces in her life not covered by her diaries, writings, letters, and other documentation. I haven't read much about Potter and knew little of her except for her children's books and her love of nature, biology, and science. I was enchanted by the story. The character of Beatrix Potter is rich in contradictions and yet steeped in the traditions and strictures of her time. Albert has given us a woman who yearned for love, independence, and growth but who felt obligated to obey her parents every whim at the expense of her own happiness. Yet, Potter's mind is quick, concise, and her courage, especially when needed by others, is unfailing. I hope to be able to take advantage of some of the suggested resources listed in the back of the book to learn more of Beatrix Potter's life.

The story is a wonderful mix of characters including animals as well as humans. The point of view shifts from the animal views to those of humans with distinct and interesting contrasts for the same events. The mystery is low key and while the solution is fitting and satisfying it's not so much the mystery as the wonderful insights into small town mores and society. This is truly a town filled with believeable people living their lives in 1905 England.

Reading the story is a quite trip in time and a delightful vacation in another place with people you may end up caring about as if they were your own neighbors.

Book also contains a Historical Note, Glossary, List of Resources, and recipes for Tatie Pot, Sponge Cake, Elsa'a Grape's Gooseberry Sauce, Bertha Stubbs's Rhubarb and Strawberry Tart, Gingersnaps, and Mrs. Stokes's Treacle Pudding.

Beatrix Potter, successful author, has bought a farm in the Lake District of England. She loves the area and is hoping to use it to set up an independent life from her parents.

She expects peace and quite in the village of Near Sawrey. But on her first visit, she realizes that's not to be.

Miss Tolliver passed away rather unexpectedly on her birthday. Her death was a shock to all, and the village is buzzing. Additionally, things seem to be disappearing around the village, and Miss Potter gets caught up in the middle.

All this is on top of the personal problems Miss Potter faces. She's still reeling from the death of her fiance just a few months before. And, while she may own Hill Top Farm, she must figure out a way to live there while keeping the current farmers there to run it for her.

I went back and forth on whether I enjoyed the book or not. The pacing is slow, and at times I was ready for things to speed up. Yet at other times I got caught up in events and couldn't put the book down.

The characters were interesting. I especially like the portrayal of Beatrix. I completely believed her temperament from the little I know about this period of her life.

Since the book is about Beatrix Potter, there are lots of animals in the story. While they can't communicate with humans, they can talk to each other and actually play an important part in the story. It's handled in a believable way but might bother those who don't like that kind of thing.

There were parts that were enjoyable, but on the whole it was an average read.

"The Tale of Hill Top Farm" is a delightful debut story in an engaging new mystery series by veteran mystery writer Susan Wittig Albert. Ms. Albert has done a fine job of blending biographical information from the life of Beatrix Potter (author of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and other children's tales) with a compelling murder mystery of her own imagining.

This story introduces the reader to the real Lake Country Village of Sawrey, along with a large host of imagined village inhabitants. As the story opens, one of the village's middle-aged spinsters is found dead in her cottage on the day right after her birthday. The venerable Miss Abigail Tolliver seemed healthy enough at her birthday celebration, and when the village doctor pronounces that she passed due to heart trouble, the local gossips are quick to suspect that Miss Tolliver was poisoned. When Miss Beatrix Potter arrives in town to survey her newly purchased farm, she finds herself looking for answers to the mystery surrounding Miss Tolliver's death. Other strange goings-on in the village include the loss of the Parish Village Register, which contains the church records of the village, and the mysteriouos disappearance of a large sum of money donated to repair the village school roof. The village animals also get involved in trying to solve these mysteries.

Just like the Peter Rabbit stories, all the village animals can talk, but not all the humans can understand them. The animals in this story are embued with much personality, as are the village locals.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Albert's China Bayles series, and I expect that this series will be one to savor as well.

Although I grew up on Peter Rabbit and his fellows, and on Potter's gorgeous watercolors of them, I heard of this one only when I was well into adulthood. That's too bad, since "Fairy Caravan" would have enriched my childhood as much as the others did.

The story opens on a village of guinea pigs, with the frocks, waistcoats, and walking sticks proper to the late-Victorian era. As one might expect, this town has its own social strata and fine grades within that hierarchy. Tuppenny, the character that this book follows, lies at the low end of the lower rung. A mishap with a hair potion turns him into a furry curiosity - not what one wants to be in this staid and strait-laced community. So, Tuppenny runs away and joins a circus. This traveling band of gentle and genteel fraudsters wanders from town to town, presenting their unthreatening amusements. Despite the slightly wicked, "gypsy" sense of this troupe, they are an affectionate bunch. They harm no one and nothing, unless you count some slightly scuffed truths and bruised gullibilities. They accept Tuppenny immdiately, finding his oddity as welcome in their band as it was unwelcome back in the village. Then the group is off, finding tame adventures across the English countryside.

Perhaps this book's format has done something to inhibit its popularity. The subject matter suits the "read to me" kid. Sparse, plain illustration puts it more in the "chapter book" category, though. But even there, any child old enough to master its broad and dated vocabulary would likely be too old for this gentle and drama-free wanderings. This might work best when read aloud, to small listeners not too media-sodden to have mental imagery their own. "Fairy Caravan" really does deserve to be better known.

-- wiredweird

My wife read this book first and was mildly disappointed with it. Armed with lower expectations by her comments; I started reading the book not expecting too much, and to my pleased surprise, I found it to be a delightful collection of individual tales loosely connected by the travels of the "Fairy Caravan". After reading the tale about the "elephant" sneezing, and blowing its trunk across the barnyard, I could not look at the cover art which shows the "elephant" without laughing at the memory of that sneeze.

If one determines to approach the book without prejudice, it offers some delightful stories. On balance, I'm glad I took the time to read it. The book seemed to have a special place in the heart of Mrs. William Heelis (aka Beatrix Potter) who is mentioned as a character in the book; I believe I can see why.

I enjoyed the book and can recommend it to fans of Beatrix Potter.

This has been one of my favorite books since I was a little girl. I reread it at least once every year, especially around spring when everything's fresh and green and in bloom. "The Fairy Caravan" couples Beatrix Potter's beautiful language with a gentle fantasy reminiscent of "The Wind in the Willows" or "The Borrowers" (coincidentally, two of my OTHER favorite books). I cannot recommend this book enough, to young and old alike. Five stars!

A wonderful book by a great author! Unlike the Peter Rabbit books, this is written for older children (225 pages), and for grown-ups who enjoy reading books like Wind in the Willows and the Narnia series.

Tuppeny the guinea pig, victim of some all-too-successful patent hair-growing elixir, joins a Travelling Circus and meets Sandy the Highland terrier, Pony Billy, Paddy the Pig (who doubles as the Pygmy Elephant for the Circus), Xarifa the Dormouse, Jane Ferret, and others. They travel about, putting on shows for the animals of the farms and countryside in turn-of-the-century England.

The stories are incredibly sweet, not over-simple, and the incident where Paddy Pig gets lost in the Fairy Hill of Oaks is rather eerie, and reminded me of the meeting with the god Pan in Wind in the Willows. There is a useful glossary of antique British words used in the story (like "snod" for snug).

I don't know how this classic animal tale managed to get lost, but it is definitely about time it was rediscovered!