The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Rating:
Summary: Violence is not the answer
Review: I was offended and disturbed by the sudden and swift use of violence to teach Squirrel a lesson. There are more effective ways to teach children the value of work and teamplay.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book
Review: The story of Squirrel Nutkin who is a very disrespectful and rude and provocative squirrel who gets taught a very tough lesson. Learning is not alway painless. Learning is not always pleasurable or fun. This is a fact of life.

Rating:
Summary: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Review: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is one of my favorite Beatrix Potter stories along with The Tailor of Gloucester and The Tale of Ginger and Pickles. It is the story of a rather mischievous young squirrel named Nutkin who loves to tease old Mr. Brown, the owl who lives on an island filled with nut trees. The little rythmes and verses Nutkin recites throughout the story are absolutely delightful. The illustrations are one of Ms. Potter's finest---filled with wonderful detail and color. Some might be offended by the way Nutkin is punished by old Mr. Brown---mainly by having his tail torn off, but if one thinks about it that is the way owls behave in nature. Ms. Potter never honeys things over and her tales always remain a joy to read. Children should not miss out reading this humorous tale.

Rating:
Summary: Rudeness, Violence, Gore
Review: Though Potter's work is historically important to the world of children's books, this one is way out of step with the current world. Nutkin teases and mocks an elderly owl, old Brown. In the end Old Brown traps Nutkin and prepares to eat him. Nutkin escapes by gnawing off his own tail! Pretty violent stuff really.

Though one reviewer here finds the rhymes and riddles "delightful," let's face it: they make absolutely no sense to today's readers adults and children. While sense is not a necessity certainly, Potter's works in general barely make sense at all and we should consider retiring many of these titles. A number of them are over a hundred years old now, and, if the stories themselves are so great (most are not really), they should be updated in the same way that classic fairy tales are.

The one bright spot in Squirrel Nutkin is the picture of the squirrels using their "tails as sails." Other reviewers mention this, but fail to note that this is but one picture and is trivial in the story.