Did You Know? The Tale of Peter Rabbit

After yesterday's interview with Peter Rabbit, I'm interested to see what little known facts we could find about the story and it's author, Beatrix Potter. This has always been one of my favorite stories, and one of the first that I can remember hearing.

Did You Know...

• The story was written for Noel Moore, the five year old son of Potter's former governess in 1893?
• Potter published it on her own in 1901? It was picked up by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902.
• The book was one of the first to be merchandised? In 1903, Potter released a Peter Rabbit doll, as well as a board game.
• The book has been translated into 36 languages and sold 45 million copies?
• Potter owned a pet rabbit named Peter Piper which she used as the model for Peter?
• In 1938 Disney was interested in producing an animated version of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but Potter and Disney could not agree on marketing rights?  
• Potter wrote and illustrated 23 books?
• She was interested in science and wrote and illustrated a paper on fungi and their germination?
• Potter loved country life, and became a leading breeder of Herdwick sheep?
• When she died, she left most of her property, over 4,000 acres, to the National Trust? This ensured that the land would be preserved.

Here's a clip from a video adaptation of the story. We had this on video for the kids. I really like the live action beginning, which shows Beatrix Potter coming in from the rain to write a letter to little Noel. It really sparks the imagination. I also love the animation, which is done in the style of Potter's illustrations.



Monday Interview Series: Peter Rabbit

This week, we were able to sit down and talk with everyone's favorite naughty bunny, Peter Rabbit. He visited The Deliverers Publishing Headquarters with the assurance that there would be some nice, fresh vegetables available, and that Mr. McGregor had not been invited.

So, without further ado, here's our conversation with an older, wiser Peter Rabbit.

Greg:  Welcome, Peter. It's nice to have you here.

Peter:  Thank you, it's very nice to be here. Are, um, those nice cabbages for you, or can anyone have some?

Greg:  No, no, I had them brought in especially for you. Please, help yourself.

Peter:  Well, well, since you've gone to all this trouble, I believe I'll have a little nibble. Mmmm, delicious. Oh, I say, are those carrots? I must tell you that I have a weak spot for carrots. Mr. McGregor grows the best carrots in the district, but these are quite good.

Greg:  Well, don't be bashful. Tuck in. That's quite a smart looking blue coat you've got there.

Peter:  Do you like it? My mother made it. It is rather a favorite of mine, but I almost lost it for good in Mr. McGregor's garden.

Greg:  Really? What happened?

Peter:  Well, it's really all rather embarrassing when I look back on it. I was quite a bit younger then, you see. When I was a young rabbit, I had a passion for vegetables. Still do, I suppose, but back then I was positively mad for them--especially those grown by Mr. McGregor. I was so enamored of them, that I was willing to risk life and limb for a taste.

My poor father, bless him, had the same weakness. Unfortunately, he was not very lucky, even though he possessed four rabbits feet! Mr. McGregor managed to catch my father, and he wound up being baked in one of Mrs. McGregor's horrible pies. Nasty business, really. Um, where was I?

Greg:  You were telling us about your coat.

A Writer's Week: What's Your Story?

Hello. It's been a lean couple of weeks, writing wise. Things have just been so busy in all the other facets of my life that I haven't been able to concentrate on writing at all. Last week, was filled with long days at work, and preparation for my Lions Club's annual dance on Friday.That went off extremely well, but there was no time to even look at the book.

This week has been a little bit better. Still long days at work, but that's it. So, I was able to begin to do some editing. I have about half the book written, but now I'm going back over what I've written so far with an eye to add some depth to this new world and to flesh out and revise the plot line. I may have to rewrite the beginning to fit in with the true theme of the book, which I stumbled upon later on in the story.

I learned something very important this week--everyone has a story to tell. I visited Mr. Regan's fourth grade class. It was great. The kids had a lot of questions, and I learned that there were quite a few writers in the class. One girl was even working on a full length book. Here are some pictures:

It was interesting to discover that their characters also seemed to have a mind of their own. They were excited to learn that other writers also have this experience of the characters sort of leading the way through a story.

I also had a great conversation this week with a legally blind octogenarian who has written a book of his own quips and quotes. This guy, Rudy, is a real character, and it was fun spending the morning with him at a Lions fishing tournament for the visually impaired. He gave me a copy of the manuscript to look over. It's really funny, and most of his observations really hit home.

Then, there was someone who I see every time I go to the Y. I told him that I'd written a book. He said that he loves to tell stories about his family history, and that his family is always after him to write them down. I told him that, if nothing else, he should record them.

So, not a lot of writing, and a little bit of editing this week. But I really enjoyed talking with these folks about their writing and their aspirations. We're all kindred spirits as my friend Anne Shirley of Green Gables fame likes to say. This week, I'm going to finish my preliminary edit and then the way will be clear to keep writing. I'll let you know how it how it went next week.

What's Christian Reading? The Shore Road Mystery

Last week, Christian told us about a Hardy Boys mystery that he had been reading. When I asked him what book he'd like to talk about this week, he said he'd like to tell us about another Hardy Boys adventure, The Shore Road Mystery. When I asked him if there was something else that he'd read he said, "All I've read this week is Hardy Boys."

I guess he really likes the books. When something grabs him, he goes with it. So, at the risk of being repetitive, here are Christian's thoughts on The Shore Road Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon.

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

"The Hardy boys have another mystery to solve. Some crooks have been stealing cars, and it's up to the Hardy boys to discover who. They meet a fisherman that they suspect to be part of the gang. According to the police, the gang has been stealing cars and then heading north, but the Hardy boys suspect that they're making a U-turn. 

"They guess that the hideout is somewhere along the cliff. One night they see a man climbing up a gigantic spider web. Their friend, Tony, is watching the shoreline and sees the spider man, too. The boys' friend, Jack Dodd and his father were accused of the crime.

"The Hardy boys set out to prove the police wrong."

Here's what Christina liked best about the book.

"I liked the part where they saw the spider guy, because it was interesting and surprising at the same exact time. It was interesting and surprising, because it's not every day that you see a spider man climbing up a giant web."

Was there anything Christian didn't like?

"I think that they could have described the fishing boat better, instead of just saying it was a black boat."

So, how did Christian rate The Shore Road Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon?

He gives it four out of five flaming monkey heads.

Did You Know? The Call of the Wild

Today, we've got some fun facts about The Call of the Wild and its author, Jack London. Let's see what we dug up.

Did You Know...

• The Alaska natives called the Yeehat that appear in the book were made up by London?
• The dog, Buck, was inspired by a dog owned by London's landlords?
• The Call of the Wild first appeared in 1903 in The Saturday Evening Post? Macmillan bought the book rights and published it later that year.
• Egerton R. Young claimed the book was taken from his book, My Dogs in the Northland? London admitted using it as a source.
• London spent a year in the Klondike, which inspired the book?
• London was an advocate of socialism and unions? He wrote several books and articles in support of those ideals.
• He worked on a sealing schooner that sailed to Japan? He also worked in a mill, a power plant, and spent time as a tramp. 
• London spent 30 days in jail for vagrancy?
• When he was in the Klondike, he contracted scurvy?
• London died young? He passed away from acute renal colic and late stage alcoholism in 1916 at age 40.

Here's a scene from the 1935  film version of The Call of the Wild starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young.