Ages ago, I mentioned to Chris that I used to collect Alison Uttley’s Little Grey Rabbit books when I was a child. I loved these books and, looking back, compared them very favourably with Beatrix Potter's wonderful little books.
I don't know what happened to my Little Grey Rabbit books. My parents weren't in the habit of giving away my books, but I wonder if they found their way to one of my younger cousins.
So, imagine my delight when Chris surprised me with a beautiful copy of Little Grey Rabbit's Washing Day. He told me that he bought me the book as I was doing a lot of washing at the time!
Following this gift I have received a number of Little Grey Rabbit books including....
Alison Uttley published her first Little Grey Rabbit book in 1929. She based them on a brilliantly imagined community of animals with homely, sensible Little Grey Rabbit, vain and selfish Squirrel and the boastful and adventurous Hare at their centre. These books were beautifully illustrated by Margaret Tempest.
Alison Uttley was a passionate observer of the changing seasons and of the swirling constellations in the night skies and in the Little Grey Rabbit books the seasons, the stars, the moon and the sun, the contours and the flora and fauna of the traditional English countryside are celebrated with tenderness and a keen eye.
I'm hoping that more Little Grey Rabbit books might follow soon....Pancake Day, Easter Eggs and Birthday, to name but a few.