Little Grey Rabbit’s Birthday
Illustrations by Margaret Tempest.
Alison Uttley wrote Little Grey Rabbit’s Birthday around the end of 1941, along with Hare Joins the Home Guard but it was not available to the public until December 1944. I like to imagine she received letters from children wanting to know Rabbit’s birthday, or because her characters were “real” that they naturally would have a detail like a birthday.
Hare and Squirrel decide to bake a cake and throw a surprise birthday tea party for Little Grey Rabbit. At times Hare nearly reveals the secret and hurts Grey Rabbit’s feelings in his clumsy attempts to get her out of the house. Fuzzypeg wants to wish her happy birthday first and has a small side adventure. Ultimately, with help from Milkman Hedgehog the party is a success.
Midsummer
Originally celebrated by ancient Pagans on June 21, but later observed on June 24 or nearest Friday. Midsummer’s Day, supposed to be the most magical of all days, when charms and spells cast on this day have increased potency. It is also Little Grey Rabbit’s birthday. Rabbit’s have always been associated with magic and tricks, so I think it’s a fitting choice. According to Cultural Studies: Holidays Around the World, in England it is one of the official quarters day. Payments are due and contracts start or end, and customarily a time for moving house.
The abridged copy from the Little Grey Rabbit Library has a pattern of birthday candles on the cover. It may’ve been touched up digitally; the rays of light from the candle look stronger and more defined. The cover of the 1955 8thimpression shows Little Grey Rabbit getting ready to blow out the candles on her cake. If she had made a wish (the text doesn’t say) it would’ve been extra powerful.
Birthday Traditions
I’d think it worthwhile to compare and contrast an old fashioned party and traditions as opposed to a contemporary party. The significance of the number of candles is explained, but there is no mention of making a wish on the candles—they go straight to cutting the cake. Nor do they sing the Birthday Song or Jolly Good Fellow. This could be cultural or copyright, or both. There’s no modern trapping like giftwrap or cards, but they do have games, music and entertainment (Squirrel recites a poem). Have you ever noticed that at some birthday parties the birthday child opens the gifts after the guests have departed?
Hare’s childlike nature is increased as an expository device to explain that we celebrate birthdays annually, but it sounds like Hare is all about celebrating his unbirthday because Squirrel reminds him that ‘“it isn’t your turn, Hare. You are always having birthdays.”’
Hare has a cunning idea…
‘“We must use cunning to send her away,” continued Hare. “We must be wise as Wise Owl, clever as Moldy Warp, and sensible as Water-rat, and lure her out of the house.” “Alright. Do it,” said Squirrel.
“GREY RABBIT! Grey Rabbit! Go away! We don’t want you,” commanded Hare Sternly.’
I’ll make a tiddly present…
Grey Rabbit received a nice haul of presents from her friends. A lovely cake from Hare and Squirrel. A hurdy gurdy music box. A book written by Wise Owl. A song and honey from the wild bees. A canoe from Water-rat. A feather fan, a puffball purse, and a candlestick (for a pith light) from Rat.
Stuff you’d have to be a country child or a naturalists / mycologist to know…
A puffball or Lycoperdon Pratense is a fungus. The book details how Hare made a purse for Rabbit out of a meadow puffball. The Little Grey Rabbit Country Book omits this project, can’t have the modern child playing with fungus.
Rabbit money? Using context clues, it seems to be a type of flower or berry that grows among hedges.
Abridged….
Yikes, it was reduced from 96 pages to 44. At this point I’ll always recommend the unabridged editions if you can lay your hands on them. For the sake of little details that are charming and revealing about the country ways Alison Uttley was trying to share. For example, Moldy Warp smoking clover and thyme in his pipe, drinking heather-ale, Hare’s cunning idea and subsequent fail. A cute scene where the trio all have milk mustaches after getting fresh milk from Hedgehog—and making a cup out of a leaf.
My favorite illustrations…
The cool colors for nighttime emphasize Fuzzypeg’s fear and chill. I love the roundness echoed by Fuzzypeg and Rabbit’s backs, as well as the tree branches arched over them. The round border is a lovely touch and makes it intimate like the little eggs you peep in for an easter scene. The cake reveal! The candles look a lot more orderly than the text describes, but that’s o.k. Coming out of the darkness of the straw skep is a lovely contrast, since the design for the cake is jolly and bright. Primary colors for the candles are echoed by the foxgloves in the background.
Final Thoughts…
Hare actually shines in his silliness in the story. Rather exasperating at times, but funny nonetheless. This story magnifies Grey Rabbit, as a motherly figure to everyone, and it’s nice to see her appreciated by her community. There is a nice balance of the preparations for the party and the actual event. I’d really love to try a spice cake with currants and honey. Sugared flowers are always tasty too.
‘“A Happy Birthday Little Grey Rabbit.” it seemed to say. “Thank you for all the fun you give us, little rabbit.”’
Little Grey Rabbit Scholar 