Peter Rabbit Peter is one of Beatrix Potter’s best known characters and children the world over are familiar with this classic tale of naughty Peter’s escape from Mr. McGregor’s garden. Published in 1902, The Tale of Peter Rabbit is Beatrix Potter’s first book and was expanded from an illustrated letter she had sent to a young friend who was ill. Jemima Puddle-Duck Jemima is based on a real duck that lived at Hill Top. In the tale, Jemima wants to hatch her own eggs so tries to find a secret nesting place away from the farm, but runs into the foxy-whiskered gentleman who ‘helps’ her to find a suitable place. Published in 1908, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck features Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top farm, and her surroundings. Mrs Tiggy- Mrs Tiggy-Winkle is a similar small, round twinkly-eyed washerwoman; but has prickles under her cap and does the laundry for some surprising customers, including Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin! Winkle As a child Beatrix had known a charming old Scottish country washerwoman called Kitty MacDonald. Tom Kitten Published in 1907, The Tale of Tom Kitten is the story of Tom and his sister’s struggle to keep their clothes clean and tidy when their mother invites her friends for tea. Tom Kitten also appears in The Tale of Samuel Whiskers when rats capture him and they try to turn him into a roly-poly pudding to eat for dinner! Benjamin Bunny The Tale of Benjamin Bunny continues the story of The Tale of Peter Rabbit as Peter and Benjamin venture into Mr. McGregor’s garden to retrieve Peter’s jacket and shoes. However, the two young cousins end up trapped in a basket that Mr. McGregor’s cat decides to take a nap on. They are eventually rescued by Benjamin’s father. Mr. Jeremy Fisher Mr. Jeremy Fisher has a day full of the worst fisherman’s mishaps when he sets out to catch minnows for his dinner. Not only does he fail to catch any minnows, but a trout tries to eat him and only spits him out because he doesn’t like the taste of his macintosh! Hunca Munca The Tale of Two Bad Mice follows Hunca Munca and her husband Tom Thumb as they run riot through a beautiful doll’s house. They try to eat the food and are disappointed to find it glued to the plates and the tins in the larder full of beads. They also steal furniture and clothes but realise the error of their ways and pay for the damage. Squirrel Nutkin Squirrel Nutkin sails across Derwentwater with his cousins to gather nuts on Owl Island. Famous for his impertinent riddles, he soon finds himself in serious trouble with Old Brown the owl. Nutkin is lucky to get away with only half his tail missing! Published in 1903, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin also originates as a picture letter. Samuel Whiskers Samuel Whiskers is a particularly mean rat who ties Tom up and tries to turn him into a roly-poly pudding, which he can eat for dinner! The Tale of Samuel Whiskers takes us back to the home of Tom Kitten and family and the story tells what happens when naughty Tom Kitten tries to hide from his mother and accidentally falls into Samuel Whisker’s hands. Mr. Tod Mr Tod the fox is an enemy of the rabbit family but unintentionally becomes an ally when Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny band together again to rescue Benjamin’s children who have been kidnapped by the badger Tommy Brock. Miss Moppet Beatrix borrowed a kitten to draw for the illustration of Miss Moppet and the kitten proved to be as mischievous as the character she was to portray! Miss Moppet tries to catch a mouse, but hurts her head as she crashes into a cupboard the mouse is hiding behind. Pigling Bland Pigling Bland is one of the many brothers and sisters who cannot all stay at the farm as food is short and they have very big appetites. The sensible little pig is sent to market but gets lost in the woods on the way. He finds himself in Mr. Piperson’s farm where he discovers the little black pig, Pig-wig. Johnny Town-Mouse Country mouse, Timmy Willie, falls asleep in a hamper, and is carried with the vegetables to the city, where he meets Johnny Town-Mouse. Frightened by the cats and troubled by the strange food, he soon returns to the country. Sometime later, Johnny Town-Mouse pays him a visit, but finds the cows and lawnmowers just as frightening! Timmy Tiptoes Timmy Tiptoes is a squirrel and his tale, first published in 1911, concerns his nut gathering adventures with his wife, Goody. Mrs. Tittlemouse The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse tells the story of a wood-mouse named Mrs. Tittlemouse and her efforts to keep her house in order despite numerous unwanted visitors, particularly Mr. Jackson, a sloppy toad. .