The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Beatrix Potter |
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| Illustrator | Beatrix Potter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Frederick Warne & Co. |
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Publication date
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October 1908 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck |
| Followed by | The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies |
The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding is a fun children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was first published in October 1908. The book was originally called The Roly-Poly Pudding. Later, in 1926, it got a new name: The Tale of Samuel Whiskers. This story is dedicated to Beatrix Potter's own pet rat, "Sammy." It tells the exciting adventure of Tom Kitten and how he escapes from two sneaky rats who want to turn him into a pudding! This popular tale was even made into an animated cartoon in 1993.
Contents
The Story of Tom Kitten
This story teaches us about what can happen when you don't listen to your parents. Tom Kitten is a young cat who lives with his mom, Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, and his two sisters, Moppet and Mittens. Their house is full of rats!
Mrs. Twitchit often has trouble keeping her playful kittens under control. One day, she puts Moppet and Mittens in a cupboard to keep them safe. But Tom Kitten doesn't want to be put away. He decides to escape by climbing up the chimney!
As Tom climbs higher, he finds a small crack in the wall. He squeezes through it and ends up under the attic floorboards. There, he meets two rats: Mr. Samuel Whiskers and his wife, Anna Maria.
The rats quickly catch Tom Kitten. They plan to make him into a "roly-poly pudding." They cover him with butter and dough they stole. Meanwhile, Tom's sisters, Moppet and Mittens, are also hiding from their mom. They see the rats stealing the dough, butter, and a rolling pin.
When Samuel Whiskers and Anna Maria start rolling the dough with the rolling pin, it makes a lot of noise. This noise travels through the floorboards. Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit and her cousin Ribby, who was helping search for Tom, hear it.
They quickly call for John Joiner, the carpenter. He saws open the floor and rescues Tom Kitten! Tom is cleaned up, and the leftover dough is eaten by the family. Samuel Whiskers and Anna Maria escape to Farmer Potatoes' barn. They leave the cat family's house in peace. Beatrix Potter herself said she saw the rats escaping with a wheelbarrow that looked like hers.
Tom Kitten is so scared by this adventure that he becomes afraid of anything bigger than a mouse. But his sisters, Moppet and Mittens, grow up to be excellent rat-catchers!
How the Book Was Made
This story is a follow-up to The Tale of Tom Kitten, just as Beatrix Potter had promised her readers. The story takes place inside the house at Hill Top Farm. Beatrix Potter got the idea for the story after her own home was invaded by rats!
The book was first published in October 1908. It was a larger size than her other books, which allowed for more detailed pictures. The book was dedicated to Beatrix Potter's pet rat, "Sammy," who had passed away. In 1926, the book was re-released in the smaller size of her other books and renamed The Tale of Mr. Samuel Whiskers.
Main Characters
- Samuel Whiskers is a large, brave, and sneaky old rat. He and his wife, Anna Maria, are thieves. You can also see Samuel Whiskers in another book, The Tale of Ginger and Pickles.
- Anna Maria is Samuel Whiskers' wife. She helps him with his mischievous plans.
- Tom Kitten is a playful and sometimes naughty kitten. He is the main character of this story.
- Mittens and Moppet are Tom's sisters. They are also quite mischievous. By the end of the story, they become very good at catching rats! They appeared in The Tale of Tom Kitten and Moppet even had her own book, The Story of Miss Moppet.
- Tabitha Twitchit is Tom's mom. She is an "old cat" and a very worried parent because her kittens are always getting into trouble. She also runs a shop in other Beatrix Potter stories.
- Ribby is Tabitha's neighbor and cousin. She is not afraid of rats and helps search for Tom. Ribby is also a main character in The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan.
- Farmer Potatoes is the narrator's neighbor. Samuel Whiskers and Anna Maria move into his barn after they are found. This character was based on Beatrix Potter's real-life neighbor.
- John Joiner is a helpful carpenter dog. He saws open the floor to free Tom Kitten. This character was based on a real repairman named John Taylor.
- Miss Potter is Beatrix Potter herself! She appears in one picture, watching Samuel Whiskers and Anna Maria as they sneak into Farmer Potatoes' gate with her wheelbarrow.
The Pictures in the Book
The larger size of the book allowed Beatrix Potter to draw even more detailed pictures. You can see many parts of her own home, Hill Top, in the illustrations. These include the kitchen, the staircase, and the front door.
Beatrix Potter sometimes used photographs to help her draw, especially during winter or when she was in London. For example, the picture of Farmer Potatoes was based on a photograph of her neighbor. Some children even wondered if she used a real kitten tied up as a model for the picture of Tom Kitten waiting to be rolled into a pudding!
Other Versions of the Story
In 1933, a play version of the story called Mr. Samuel Whiskers was published. Later, in 1993, the story was made into an animated film. It was part of the TV show The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. Many famous actors lent their voices to the characters in the cartoon.
