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5[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bunny_99.png]]
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7''The Tale of Peter Rabbit'' was published in 1901 and is Creator/BeatrixPotter's first, and most famous [[ChildrensLiterature children's book]].
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9Peter Rabbit is an [[CivilizedAnimal anthropomorphic rabbit]] who lives in a wood near the house of Mr. [=McGregor=], an old man who grows lots of vegetables. His mother's always told him to stay out of Mr [=McGregor's=] garden because Peter's father was killed there by Mr [=McGregor=], and then cooked into a pie by Mrs [=McGregor=]. Of course, Peter foolishly disobeys this advice and sneaks into [=McGregor=]'s garden to stuff himself on vegetables and get into all sorts of trouble.
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11It's now in the public domain in the United States and can be read [[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14838/14838-h/14838-h.htm here]]. A [[http://kidscreen.com/2012/10/09/cbeebies-hops-into-new-peter-rabbit-series/ CGI series based on the tale]] began on Creator/CBeebies in December 2012. A special associated with the series aired on Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} in the United States in December 2012, and [[WesternAnimation/PeterRabbit the series]] began in the U.S. in February 2013.
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13A [[Film/PeterRabbit film adaptation]] was released in 2018, alongside a sequel called ''Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway'' that was released on June 2021.
14
15!!The original book provides examples of the following tropes:
16
17* AerithAndBob: Three of the rabbits have cutesy bunny-themed names: Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail. The fourth rabbit has the very ordinary-sounding name of Peter.
18* AnimalTalk: Peter talks to several different species, including a cat and a mouse.
19* AnimatedAdaptation: The story gained a couple animated adaptations over the past decades:
20** The earliest is the [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Merrie Melodies's]] 1935 cartoon "Country Boy" by Creator/FrizFreleng.
21** Then two were created in 1991 first is [[{{Creator/HBO}} HBO Family]]'s animated musical adaptation as part of a series ''WesternAnimation/HBOStorybookMusicals'' and another being released the same year called ''WesternAnimation/TheWorldOfPeterRabbitAndFriends''.
22** Creator/GoldenFilms also released an animated movie in 1995 called "The New Adventures Of Peter Rabbit" where Peter is a little bit older along with his three sisters.
23** The most recent is the 2012 Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} series ''WesternAnimation/PeterRabbit''.
24** Creator/RabbitEarsProductions also created an animated adaptation of this tale that was narrated by Creator/MerylStreep.
25* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Peter's shoes are where his toes should be.
26* BalloonBelly: An illustration shows Peter being considerably heavier after scarfing down some of Mr. [=McGregor=]'s vegetables.
27* BeastFable: Listen to your parents, kids. The dangerous strangers they tell you to stay away from are ''actually dangerous''.
28* BigEater: Peter puts away a lot of food before Mr. [=McGregor=] catches him.
29* BittersweetEnding: Peter goes through hell and back, but escapes with his life. However, he loses his clothes and is left traumatized and ill by his ordeal.
30* BlackComedy:
31--> "Now my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. [=McGregor=]'s garden: your Father [[NeverSayDie had an accident there]]; he was put in a pie by Mrs. [=McGregor=]."
32* BunniesForCuteness: Peter Rabbit and his sisters serve as the TropeCodifier for this trope. While not the first, Peter Rabbit could be considered one of the earliest uses of this trope in children's media and how the history of bunnies commonly associated with cute began with.
33* CallBack: The events of this tale are referenced in the one about Peter's cousin Benjamin Bunny, who helps Peter break back into the garden to reclaim his clothes.
34* CarnivoreConfusion: Rabbits are not only sapient, but they have a society very similar to humans. They [[AppropriateAnimalAttire wear clothes]], use pots and pans, and sleep on rabbit-sized beds. That said, Mrs. [=McGregor=] baked Peter's father into a pie.
35* CivilizedAnimal: Peter and his family, of course. They are very anatomically accurate, but wear clothes and live in well-furnished warrens.
36* DisappearedDad: Peter's father was put in a pie by Mrs [=McGregor=].
37* EarlyBirdCameo: Peter's cousin Benjamin Bunny is mentioned as having told Peter to avoid cats.
38* ForbiddenFruit: Peter is told not to go in Mr [=McGregor=]'s garden. He goes in anyway, with predictable results.
39* FreezeSneeze: Peter sneezes while he's hiding in a half-full watering can.
40* {{Housewife}}: Peter's mother, though she also sells tea and tobacco.
41* IllTimedSneeze: A sneeze gives Peter away to Mr. [=McGregor=] when he's hiding in the watering can.
42* MouseWorld: Peter and his family live on the fringes of human society.
43* OddNameOut: "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were— Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter."
44* OnceUponATime: As the first sentence goes: "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were— Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter."
45* PantslessMalesFullyDressedFemales: Peter only wears a jacket/vest, while his mother wears a dress and apron. Peter's sisters, however, only wear shawls.
46* PinkGirlBlueBoy: In the original illustrations, Peter's three sisters all wear identical pink coats, while Peter himself wears a blue coat.
47* PurpleProse: Famously, when the sparrows saw Peter trapped they "implored him to exert himself."
48* RascallyRabbit: Peter Rabbit was a notorious troublemaker, as was his cousin Benjamin.
49* RhymeThemeNaming: Two of Peter's sisters are named Flopsy and Mopsy.
50* StockAnimalDiet: Subverted. Carrots aren't mentioned as something that rabbits eat in this story.
51* TooDumbToLive: Peter's father died trespassing into Mr. [=McGregor=]'s garden, and Peter [[AvertedTrope almost]] falls victim to this fate.
52* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Mr. [=McGregor=] doesn't seem at all confused upon seeing a rabbit running around wearing clothes.
53* WomenAreWiser: Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail are all smart enough to follow their mother's advice while Peter trespasses into [=McGregor's=] garden and nearly ends up a meal like his father.
54
55!!The ''Merrie Melodies'' "Country Boy" cartoon provides examples of the following tropes:
56* DenserAndWackier: True to ''Merrie Melodies'' nature, the story is made more slapstick. Peter's escape from Mr. [=McGregor=]'s counterpart in particular better resembles a standard ''Franchise/TomAndJerry'' chase.
57* GainaxEnding: The cartoon doesn't really have a real resolution. Peter just crashes into a chicken coop, covered in feathers. In response to his predicament, he stands on a fence and crows.
58* SettingUpdate: The original story was set sometime in the late 19th and early 20th century. In the cartoon, the story is set sometime during the late 1920s and 1930s judging by the outfits the characters are wearing.
59* TheStoolPigeon: The first time Peter attempts to trespass into the garden, he is confronted by three Obedient Olga types (what seem to be Expies for Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail) who sing a number threatening to tell the teacher on him if he tries. He threatens to pop the three tattles unless they shut up.
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