The Tale of Peter Rabbit (book)

Can you feel my smooth, sturdy cover in your hands? I am small enough to fit perfectly in your lap, a perfect friend for story time. When you open me, you don't just see words; you see pictures of a big, green garden filled with yummy vegetables, from crunchy radishes to crisp lettuces. You see a cozy rabbit hole dug under the roots of a very big fir tree, and you see a little rabbit in a bright blue jacket with shiny brass buttons. I am the whisper of an adventure waiting to happen. I hold a secret world inside my pages, a world where rabbits talk and go on exciting, sometimes scary, journeys. My pages smell a little like old paper and a lot like imagination. I am the story of a brave, but sometimes naughty, little bunny. I am The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

My story began a long, long time ago with a very kind and talented woman named Beatrix Potter. She lived in England and loved animals and the countryside more than anything. She spent her days drawing pictures of all the little creatures she saw, like mice, squirrels, and of course, rabbits. One day, on September 4th, 1893, she heard that a little boy named Noel Moore was feeling sick. To help him feel better, she wrote him a letter. But it wasn't just any letter. It was a picture letter, filled with drawings and a story about four little rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. That story was me! Beatrix loved the story of Peter so much that she thought other children might like it too. She was very determined, which means she never gave up. She tried to find someone to help her make me into a real book, but at first, everyone said no. So, she made copies all by herself! Finally, a publisher named Frederick Warne & Co. saw how special I was. They agreed to help her, and on October 2nd, 1902, I was officially born as a real book for everyone, filled with all the colorful pictures Beatrix had painted herself. From that day on, my great adventure truly began.

For more than one hundred years, I have been opened by children just like you, all over the world. Their fingers have traced the lines of Peter’s blue jacket and pointed to the big, scary boots of Mr. McGregor. Little readers giggle when Peter Rabbit squeezes under Mr. McGregor's gate, ignoring his mother’s warning. They hold their breath when he hides in a watering can, hoping he won't be found. They can almost feel his tummy ache from eating too many radishes and the big relief when he finally gets home, safe and sound. I am more than just a story about a mischievous bunny who gets into trouble. I am a story about curiosity, which is the wonderful feeling of wanting to explore. I am also a story about making mistakes and learning from them. Most importantly, I am about the wonderful, cozy feeling of being tucked in bed by someone who loves you at the end of a long day. I hope that whenever you open my pages, you feel the magic of the garden and remember that even after a scary adventure, there is always a warm, safe home waiting for you.