Jemima Puddle-duck was never allowed to hatch her eggs because she was such a bad sitter. Her sister, Rebeccah Puddle-duck, held out that it was too much trouble to sit on one’s own eggs for twenty-eight days, but Jemima was vexed, and determined to hatch her own eggs one way or another. So off she set to find a safe place to hide her eggs, and she quickly fell into the paws of the most obliging, well-mannered gentleman with the most elegant red fur and black gloves...
Morality
The elegant gentleman is obviously very crafty and fond of duck-eggs. He very nearly tricks Jemima into making him a most delicious omelette, but the farm sheepdog sees he gets his just desserts, which are not spiced with herbs and onions.
Spiritual Content
None.
Violence
The sheepdog and the two fox-hounds are bit on the ears and paws, all of Jemina’s eggs get gobbled up, and the elegant gentleman is taken care of by the dogs, never to be seen again. While there is a slight nursery-rhyme feel to the violence, nothing is described graphically and not depicted in the illustrations.
Drug and Alcohol Content
None.
Sexual Content
None.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None.
Conclusion
This is a light-hearted, hilarious story of Beatrix Potter’s. Jemima is a simpleton, the elegant gentleman is as conniving as a Jane Austen villain, and the sheepdog is a real hero. While Jemima is not really any wiser a duck at the end of the tale, it will delight both the reader and the listener alike. Full of Beatrix Potter’s adorable paintings, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck is a good addition to a child’s library.
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