Further Tale Of Peter Rabbit,The - Hardcover

Emma Thompson is an Oscar-winning screenwriter and actress who lives in London and Argyll. Her father was Eric Thompson, the man behind "The Magic Roundabout," and she remembers him reading Beatrix Potter's tales to her and her sister in his best Dougal voice. "We would always want "The Tale of Mr. Tod," which is lengthy and satisfyingly spooky. He would always read "The Tale of a Fierce Bad Rabbit," which has about three words on each page. But--thanks to Potter's genius--we were never, ever disappointed." Eleanor Taylor grew up in Scotland and England, and has a great affinity for the countryside of both places, which is beautifully reflected in the engaging characters and beautiful scenes illustrated in this book.

Thompson, actress and childhood fan of Peter Rabbit, writes in her introduction that she received a request from Peter himself to come up with a new tale. And so she does, in this story full of familiar yet satisfying tropes. Peter would like to leave his home for a bit and see new things, but Benjamin Bunny reminds him of the danger. The choice is taken from his hands when he steps into a wagon, hoping for onions but finding himself on the open road instead. When he finally escapes, he is discovered by Finlay, a huge black rabbit in a kilt, who takes him home, feeds him porridge, and then brings him to a day of games where clans battle to bring home the Golden Cup. The rest of the story concerns Peter and a giant radish and a misunderstanding that helps Finlay win the cup. It’s all a bit confusing, but Thompson writes with an impish charm that helps make up for the story’s shortfalls. As for the pictures, well, they’re hardier than Potter’s lines, with more robust characters (especially that Finlay!). But this is certainly a handsome package: oversize format; thick, creamy paper; nicely reproduced art. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ilene Cooper