The Tale of Tom Kitten (Potter) [Hardcover]

Beatrix Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2002 | Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Potter

To celebrate Peter's birthday, Frederick Warne is publishing new editions of all 23 of Potter's original tales, which take the very first printings of Potter's works as their guide. The aim of these editions is to be as close as possible to Beatrix Potter's intentions while benefiting from modern printing and design techniques.

The colors and details of the watercolors in the volumes are reproduced more accurately than ever before, and it has now been possible to disguise damage that has affected the artwork over the years. Most notably, The Tale of Peter Rabbit restores six of Potter's original illustrations. Four were sacrificed in 1903 to make space for illustrated endpapers, and two have never been used before. Of course, Beatrix Potter created many memorable children's characters, including Benjamin Bunny, Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle-duck and Jeremy Fisher. But whatever the tale, both children and adults alike can be delighted by the artistry in Potter's illustrations, while they also enjoy a very good read. Because they have always been completely true to a child's experience, Potter's 23 books continue to endure.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943).

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Once upon a time there were three little kittens, and their names were Mitten, Tom Kitten, and Moppet.

They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Warne (September 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0723247773
• ISBN-13: 978-0723247777
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( P ) > Potter, Beatrix

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tale of Tom Kitten, May 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tale of Tom Kitten (Hardcover)

The Tale of Tom Kitten is Beatrix Potter at her best. It is certainly one of our family favorites. This is the story of three kittens all dressed in their best clothes and set out to play. They struggle to keep their clothes on only to lose them. They meet three ducks along the way who waddle off with the poorly fitted clothes. When the kittens return home their mother sends them upstairs while she hosts a tea party. Of course they cause a ruckus disturbing the "dignity and repose" of the party. The book ends with the ducks still searching for the clothes at the bottom of a pond. What makes Beatrix Potter so wonderful is her delightful vocablary that stretches a childs intellect. There is a mutual respect between Potter and the reader. Having drawn and painted animals and plant life since a child she is a master of anthropomorphisim, the giving of human qualities to animals or objects. Her delicate watercolors are perfectly suited to the playfullness of the story. This is a classic that should be a part of every child's library.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For anyone who ever resented having to take baths., May 13, 2002

By 

darragh o'donoghue - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tale of Tom Kitten (Potter 23 Tales) (Hardcover)

'The Tale Of Tom Kitten' sees Beatrix Potter at her most fey. Three young kittens muck about in the garden, tormenting their neighbouring creatures, and generally being boisterous-but-nice kids. Their class-conscious mother (very few fathers in Potter's world) is having relatives around for tea, and gives her children unwelcome baths and brushings down, before making them wear the most appallingly naff Sundaywear. Unfortunately, Tom's been eating one too many pork pies, and bursts out of his pale blue two-piece, looking rather seedy.

The charm of this story lies in the infectious playfulness of the children, their universally-understandable indifference to their elders' desire for 'respectability', and the quaint evocation of an Edwardian farmstead.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charmingly illustrated tale of three naughty kittens, October 7, 2009

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tale of Tom Kitten (Beatrix Potter Classic Tales: Tale of Tom Kitten) (Hardcover)

For some reason, I missed out on Beatrix Potter as a child so I rectified that omission by searching for the original and authorized editions of her books, illustrated by her own hand. My two favorites concern the adventures of Tom Kitten and his two sisters, Mittens and Moppet: "They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust."

Unfortunately, their mother, Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit (we never meet their father), interrupts the kittens' dusty idyll to wash and dress them because she is expecting company for tea. Tom Kitten has put on quite a bit of weight since the last time he wore his suit, and he bursts all of his buttons. After his mum sews them back on, she turns her three progeny out into the garden and admonishes them to stay clean.

Well, you can imagine how that turned out. Not only did they lose their mittens, they lost Everything. Mum had to lock them into their bedroom and inform her guests that her children had the measles (not precisely the truth.)

If you would like to pursue the further adventures of Tom Kitten, Mittens, and Moppet, read The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding (Potter 23 Tales).