Toys from the Tales of Beatrix Potter

Abstract

Toys from the Tales of Beatrix Potter Sally Ord and Patt Reeder "I'll try one of everything!" should be the enthusiastic reaction to any good pattern or instruction book, but Margaret Hutchings' book, Toys from the Tales of Beatrix Potter falls far short of this. Mrs. Hutchings' memories of her childhood color so much of the descriptive background of her book that it might have been right out of the pages of Two Bad Mice, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, or Squirrel Nutkin. It generates nostalgia rather than creative excitement. There is just too much of everything. The directions for the construction of the individual animals (there are at least 27 characters, not counting Jemima Puddleduck's and Hunca Munca's babies separately, from 16 different books) are concise and elaborate, but the patterns, which are contained in another part of the book, separated from the directions by many pages, are relatively small. This makes the actual assembly of the various parts of the respective animals difficult and awkward. The very plethora of characters and the separation of directions, patterns, and colored photographs of the completed animals are confusing and discouraging. The addition of directions for construction of furniture and accessories increases discouragement. There was obviously an abundance of careful research expended on the contents of the book and in the actual construction of all the sample toys, furniture, and accessories that are replicas of those pictured in the original Beatrix Potter illustrations. One feels, too, that these animal-people still seem very real to Mrs. Hutchings, and she makes them live again for the reader/crafter. She lovingly explains their characteristics, foibles, and relationship to each other, particularly that of the respective Rabbit and Bunny families, which is illustrated by a visual family tree of which Debretts might be proud. (Peter and his sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, are cousins of Benjamin Bunny who later married Flopsy.) These glimpses into the shared Never-never Land of childhood make it an enchanting book to read. If you truly want to construct a family heirloom or two for your children or grandchildren, however, our advice to you is to order the kits of these same animals from the Needlewoman Shop on Regent Street in London and keep the book for reminiscing beside the fire on a cold winter's night. Copyright © 1978 ChLA Newsletter