Rating: 3/5
This book has four witty and intelligent tales. I found that the most clever was the Tale of Tom Kitten, where the cat mother of three kittens, Tom, Mittens, and Moppet, had friends to tea. She needed her little babies to look very smart, so she dressed them in the most pretty clothing she had – the two girls in white petticoats and lace shawls, and the little boy (who so happened to be very naughty) had a blue waistcoat and little trousers to match. The old cat, named Mrs Tabitha, did not realise how truly cunning her kids could be, and she let them outside in the garden for a little play while she washed the dishes. “Now keep your frocks clean, children! You must walk on your hind legs. Keep away from the dirty ash-pit, and from Sally Henny-penny, and from the pig-stye and the Puddle-ducks,” is a quote from the tale.
Of course, Tom Kitten took no notice! But seeing his sisters’ examples, he walked along on his hind legs in a smart manner, and did not go near the ash-pit or the pig-stye; but still, he laughed when Moppet and Mittens fell in the greenery! They tripped and landed right on their little pink noses, and their frocks got covered in grass stains. One of the sisters thought to climb the rockery, and sit on the garden wall. There their mother might not see the green smears on their clothing from out the window. But Moppet’s white tucker fell into the road, and their pinafores were turned back-to-front in their haste. What a sight they were now! How Mrs Tabitha would spank them!
Tom Kitten climbed up the wall behind them. He stood carefully on his hind paws, and did not trip on any rocks like his hurried sisters. When he was at the top of the wall, oh who came along but the Puddle-ducks! They picked up the clothing with their long, orange beaks, and put them on themselves, despite how much Moppet and Mittens sighed. And when Mrs Tabitha came out to invite the guests in, the ducks ran away in the pond; but of course, the tuckers and hats all fall off, and they have been looking for them since, sticking their heads in and out of the pond.
Mr Jeremy Fisher was very short compared to some of the other tales. It was probably my least favourite, but it was still a good quick-read whilst you’re waiting for your tea! I thought perhaps they each would be better if they were in much more detail as a thick book in themselves, but they were all brilliant.
The illustrations in the book were really quite beautiful. They really added to the text, and Ms. Potter did them herself with detailed watercolours. I was very intrigued by them and they were lovely.