This book is a treasure and every home should have a copy on their shelf. You will have children and grandchildren to read the stories to. And, for heaven's sake, you can read and enjoy them as an adult. These are children's stories, to be sure, but they are very charming, the language is pleasant and better than most of what is fobbed off as "children's literature" today. And the paintings and drawings are glorious.

These stories have been in print for a century because they are so special. The animals are fantasies, yes, but Beatrix Potter was also a keen observer of animals and nature. I love how, in Nutkin, she has the squirrels bring the owl different gifts of animals to eat in exchange for gathering nuts on his island. However, she has the squirrels building rafts and traveling over the water to the island! My granddaughter loved this story and laughed very hard at how silly Nutkin is.

This treasury also has a short note at the beginning of each story about its origins and the Miss Potter's life at the time it was created. Nutkin, for example, is based on the musings of an old lady who lived on the island and thought they squirrels came from all around when the nuts were ripe. She enjoyed thinking they came on little rafts. We also learn that "The Tailor of Gloucester" was her personal favorite among her stories, and it is easy to understand why.

The stories range from those with few words to some with many words and fewer drawings. None of them are tremendously long. Readers of all abilities can find something to tackle. In fact, those who can't read yet should be given the opportunity to "read" you the story they see in the pictures. What fun that is!

Another wonderful thing is how the characters make reappearances, but remain affected by what happened to them in a previous story. Peter Rabbit is never as rash as he was after his bare escape from Farmer McGregor in the first story.