The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Mr.McGregorhastwothingsonhismindwhenheseesPeterinhisgarden.Oneisthesafetyofhislettuces;theotherisrabbitpie.PeterwascarefullytoldnottogointoMr.McGregor'sgarden,butsomelittlebunnieshavetolearnthingsthehardway.BeatrixPotter'sclassicstoryhasbeenlovinglyplacedatthecenterofthiscreativeeffort,andDavidJorgensenhasgivenPeterandhisfamilywonderfullydrollandexpressivecharacterandcharminhisillustrations.Ontheaccompanyingaudiocaasette,MerylStreepexploresallofthedrame,humor,andsubtletyofthenarrative,andnoneofitspotentialtoentertainandteachhasbeenleftuntapped.Musician/composerLyleMayshascoordinatedandaugmentedtheworkofbothillustratorandnarratorwithascorethatunifiesandenlivensthewholeenterprise.Thecombinedartistryofthecontributorsresultsinanewandenrichingexperiencethatwillbelovedbyall.TheTaleofPeterRabbitwasawardedaGrammynominationforbestrecordingforchildrenin1988.Thebest-sellingchildren'sbookofalltime,writtenandillustratedbyBeatrixPotter,printedprivatelyandpublishedin1902.PottercreatedthecharacterofPeterRabbitin1893inalettershewrotetoamuseasickchild.ShedevisedadventuresforPeterandgavehimamotherandthreesiblings,Flopsy,Mopsy,andCottontail,inTheTaleofPeterRabbitandMr.McGregor'sGarden,with42black-and-whiteillustrationsandacoloredfrontispiece.Thisclassicbookwaswidelytranslated,wentthroughcountlesseditions,andhadmorethan20sequelsfeaturinganimalprotagonists.ThesimpletextwasgreatlyenhancedbyPotter'sdelicatedrawingsofanimalsthatwererecognizablyrealisticwoodlandcreaturesdespitetheirhumanlikeclothingandhomes.