World of Childish Wonder

It was back in my childhood when I last got excited about a story involving mischievous rabbits, ducks and hedgehogs.

But the recent news that an unpublished Beatrix Potter story has been discovered, has me squirming like a little girl. Desperate for the day to arrive where I can throw myself into a story full of childish wonder and excitement.

Be gone dirty Fifty Shades with your filth and scandal.

Goodbye romance stories with your too good to be true plots leaving us unsatisfied in our own relationships.

Adios complex thrillers and true stories that have us fearing the world and the dark cold night.

Hello lovely colourful charming characters. Enveloping even an adult’s mind into the wonderful world of clever animals with stories that enchant and excite. Taking you out of the doom and gloom the news is so full of and into a place full of wonder.

Even as I read the extract I can’t help but smile and I’m instantly intrigued by the new character, ‘Kitty’ aka ‘Miss Catherine St Quintin’. A story written over 100 years ago, not by a celebrity as many are now, but a delightfully talented author known and loved worldwide.

Although the manuscript was left unfinished, I can not wait to hear all about this new adventure and see how cleverly Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggy Winkle are incorporated into the story line.

It feels me with a nostalgic warmth, spreading through me to the point where I may have to visit my parents to dig out the Beatrix Potter books I know are lurking in my old room.

It will be lovely for Beatrix to re-ignite children’s imaginations again after so many years.

To be honest, I don’t see many of the original stories around anymore and personally I think it would be a great shame if Beatrix Potter’s wonderfully illustrated and loving told stories, were to full into the abyss in a world full of electronics and one word monkey books.

However, my only concern are the illustrations of the new book, made my Quentin Blake, which although are very talented, I don’t think they quite fit with the image Beatrix created with her own illustrations. Something I can already see a lot of people agreeing with.

In saying that, I am hoping this new book will unleash the enlightening tales of Peter and Co back into the world of the new generation. To spread delight and a little mischief.

At least I know it will for this young at heart adult.

(illustration above definitely not Beatrix Potter’s! But I did try)