Whether you're a parent or a child, a young reader or an older one, the Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter is indeed just that – a treasure chest of delightful, charming little stories full of animals and people. Beatrix Potter today has spawned a whole industry of merchandise, games and theme parks, but the stories remain as fresh and sparkling as they were when they first came out in 1901.
The Great Big Treasury contains three collections compiled into one enchanting volume - The Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit, Further Tales of Peter Rabbit and The Giant Treasury of Beatrix Potter. It contains nineteen tales featuring a troop of unforgettable characters. Peter Rabbit, the mischievous and rebellious young fellow, is the hero of many a tale, along with his goody-goody sisters Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. Their long-suffering mother strives to keep Peter out of mischief and Mr. McGregor's tempting garden filled with luscious fruits and vegetables. The stories sparkle with Beatrix Potter's amusing lines which have old Mrs. Rabbit cautioning her children against trespassing into the garden, “Your father had an accident there. He was put into a pie!” Other memorable characters include Squirrel Nutkin, who is a most impertinent fellow, Peter Rabbit's cousin Benjamin Bunny, two bad mice, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Tailor Simpkin, a frog called Mr. Jeremy Fisher and many more.
The stories are a mixture of moral fables and fascinating descriptions of nature and Victorian childhood naughtiness. Peter Rabbit's stories have been translated into nearly forty languages and adapted for stage, film and television, converted into animated cartoons and toys, children's room accessories, furnishings and wall-paper. In fact, Beatrix Potter herself was the first person to realize the commercial value of merchandising. Her illustrations for the stories show her as a gifted artist and nature conservationist who lived in the picturesque Lake District in England.
The stories are distinctive in the way they connect directly with childhood imagination and the writing style is particularly suited to being read aloud – an activity which has been enjoyed by generations of both parents and children the world over.