Alison Uttley wrote Little Grey Rabbit’s Washing Day during WWII, her son who was inspired by their laundry drying on the line suggested the plot. According to Country Child, Uttley preferred it to Water Rat’s Picnic and chuckled as she wrote it.
Tag: Margaret Tempest
Little Grey Rabbit’s Birthday
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.
The Little Grey Rabbit Library
A review of the Little Grey Rabbit library editions.
The Little Grey Rabbit Library
Wow, it’s been ninety years since the first publication of The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit. Back in the 80’s and 90’s Collins celebrated the over fifty milestone by launching the Little Grey Rabbit Library. On the back of the book they described it as a “…smart new look. Fresh, pretty covers and a picture on every opening make them more attractive than ever before. Start collecting your Little Grey Rabbit Library now.”
Quietly, inside the book on the copyright page they confess, “Alison Uttley’s original story has been abridged for this book.” Take heart, at least the foreword is included. Continue reading “The Little Grey Rabbit Library”
Little Grey Rabbit Cartoon
Wow, it’s been too long since I’ve uploaded any content. They’re working me like Cinderella Rabbit at work, and after a particularly grueling day I tried searching for Little Grey Rabbit on youtube–just to see what would turn up and Surprise! Someone wonderful, furandpencils, has uploaded some episodes of the LGR animated series to youtube. Hugh Laurie doesn’t disappoint as Hare and Little Grey Rabbit’s voice actress is terrific too. I love the old-timey sounding theme music and I think the animation is beautiful too, so faithful to Margaret Tempest illustrations, and like a moving watercolor. Check out the first episode here: The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit. I must admit that I was surprised at how they changed the ending of the first story. The book ending is very similar to Hansel and Gretel–Grey Rabbit shoves the weasel into his own fireplace where he perishes. In the cartoon she ties him up in his own sack for a lesson in empathy. I doubt this will prevent him from coming back–as Little Grey Rabbit thinks, but the writers must’ve wanted a less violent ending, and perhaps to keep the weasel on as a regular villain. It’s not something I would’ve thought as “too violent”, but it made me wonder if adaptions of Hanse and Gretel in the last sixteen years have altered the ending. After all, other adaptations of Grimm’s Fairytales have done so, for example retellings of Snow White eventually discarded the Wicked Queen’s punishment, and Little Red Riding-hood’s near death. Ah well, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity enjoy the LGR cartoon, and I hope it will be released on DVD someday.
Meanwhile, I have acquired a lot of new LGR material, read a few other books by and about Alison Uttley, and promise to upload some fresh content soon.
Sincerely,
Primrose
The Tales of Little Grey Rabbit
In 2000, Little Grey Rabbit was adapted as a television animation series by Cosgrove Hall Films[1]. Each episode was a ten-minute adaptation of a Grey Rabbit book. The character designs and backgrounds were based on Margaret Tempest’s illustrations, and according to Cosgrove Hall Ate My Brain, the series was “drawn animation”.
Unfortunately it seems that the series was only released on VHS by Reader’s Digest, so until a DVD set is released or it becomes available streaming, the tie-in books are a decent option for getting a partial experience of the animated series if you missed out on the original airdates. I would dearly love to hear the voice actors; I imagine Hugh Laurie’s voice suited Hare perfectly. Continue reading “The Tales of Little Grey Rabbit”
Grey Rabbit’s May Day
Wishing you a happy May!
Other than playing the Lusty Month of May from Camelot a few times. May Day or Lady Day is not a holiday I’ve ever observed, but am familiar with from English novels and stories. Grey Rabbit’s May Day is all about the little animals celebrating May Day like the village children except with their own carol and spin on the traditions. Despite my tearing through Grey Rabbit books as soon as they arrive in the mail, I made a concentrated effort to save GR’s May Day to enjoy on the eve of May Day.
The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit
The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit by Allison Uttley, illustrated by Margaret Tempest. 1928
Little Grey Rabbit ‘s Story Treasury – 2013
Twenty-three watercolor illustrations
Superficially The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit by Alison Uttley is a diverting tale of some animals. In some small ways it is reminiscent of Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel. It was written and published decades ago amidst the end of World War I, and yet it remains in print. I think if there is a moral to this tale, it’s cautioning against the vices of laziness, pride and conceit. It’s not uncommon in children’s literature to use animals to teach morals. Also, it has the enduring message of good citizenship and being part of a community.
Continue reading “The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit”
Review: Little Grey Rabbit’s Story Treasury
Little Grey Rabbit is the heroine of a collection of Animal genre-fantasy stories by Alison Uttley. The first book, The Hare, the Squirrel, and the Little Grey Rabbit was published in Great Britain in 1929 and first illustrated by Margaret Tempest. The books are slice of life type stories that usually deal with Grey Rabbit and her friends outwitting an enemy, celebrating a holiday, or enjoying an activity.
Continue reading “Review: Little Grey Rabbit’s Story Treasury”
Little Grey Rabbit Scholar 