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Clare Pollard
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Fierce Bad Rabbits: The Tales Behind Children's Picture Books Kindle Edition

by Clare Pollard (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 73 ratings

What is The Tiger Who Came to Tea really about?
How is Meg and Mog related to Polish embroidery?
And why does death in picture books involve being eaten?

Fierce Bad Rabbits explores the stories behind our favourite picture books, weaving in tales of Clare Pollard's childhood reading and her re-discovery of the classic tales as a parent. Because the best picture books are far more complex than they seem - and darker too. Monsters can gobble up children and go unnoticed, power is not always used wisely, and the wild things are closer than you think.

'A gem . . . hard to put down. Thoroughly enjoyable' Spectator

'Essential reading for every thinking parent' Penelope Lively

'An enlightening, perceptive analysis of the books that build us' Sunday Telegraph, 5 star review

'A happy way to reconnect with old friends' Times

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  1. Print length
    292 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin
  4. Publication date
    1 Aug. 2019
  5. File size
    9.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

A gem . . . hard to put down. The combination of vast scholarly research and witty writing makes for a thoroughly enjoyable book. Pollard has managed to dissect all our favourite stories with her scalpel, while leaving their magic intact ― Spectator

Pollard so delicately enters into the world of [picture books] that the reader feels they are rediscovering once-loved landscapes ― New Statesman

When I read Fierce Bad Rabbits, I thought, why has no one written this book before? But Clare Pollard has done so superbly - it is perceptive, illuminating, scholarly but at the same time entertaining. It should be essential reading for every thinking parent ― Penelope Lively

A celebration of picture books and their artists to spark your own childhood memories ― Evening Standard

Delightful. As good a guide as you could hope for. It will make you think again about why you loved the children's stories that mean so much to you, and it will lead you to new discoveries too. . . A happy reconnection to the serious joys of childhood ― Harper's Bazaar

This book is a happy way to reconnect with old friends ― Times

Pollard is a poet, and her prose is stunning . . . she writes with a joy that is luminous. Essential reading for anyone with a child, or who ever was a child ― i

Excellent ― Daily Mail Book of the Week

An enlightening, perceptive analysis of the books that build us ― Sunday Telegraph, 5 star review

Most people's primal cultural memory is that of being read to by a parent. This is a phenomenon most sensitively and intelligently explored in Fierce Bad Rabbits ― Daily Telegraph

From the Back Cover

What is The Tiger Who Came to Tea really about?
What has Meg and Mog got to do with Polish embroidery?
Why is death in picture books so often represented by being eaten?

We've read Green Eggs and Ham, laughed at Mr Tickle and whetted our appetites with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But what lies behind the picture books that make up our childhood?

Fierce Bad Rabbits takes us on an eye-opening journey in a pea-green boat through the history of picture books. From Edward Lear through to Beatrix Potter and contemporary picture books like Stick Man, Clare Pollard shines a light on some of our best-loved childhood stories, their histories and what they really mean. Because the best picture books are far more complex than they seem - and darker too. Monsters can gobble up children and go unnoticed, power is not always used wisely, and the wild things are closer than you think.

Sparkling with wit, magic and nostalgia, Fierce Bad Rabbits weaves in tales from Clare's own childhood, and her re-readings as a parent, with fascinating facts and theories about the authors behind the books. Introducing you to new treasures while bringing your childhood favourites to vivid life, it will make you see even stories you've read a hundred times afresh.

'When I read Fierce Bad Rabbits, I thought, why has no one written this book before? But Clare Pollard has done so superbly - it is perceptive, illuminating, scholarly but at the same time entertaining. It should be essential reading for every thinking parent' PENELOPE LIVELY

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07KPGNCYG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin; 1st edition (1 Aug. 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 292 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 73 ratings

About the author

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Clare Pollard

Clare Pollard

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Clare Pollard has published five collections of poetry. Her poem ‘Pollen’ was nominated for the Forward Prize. Her play The Weather premiered at the Royal Court Theatre and her documentary for radio, 'My Male Muse', was a Radio 4 Pick of the year. She has been involved in numerous translation projects, including translating Ovid’s Heroines, which she toured as a one-woman show. She has also written a non-fiction title - Fierce Bad Rabbits: The Tales Behind Children’s Picture Books - and an adult novel, Delphi. The Untameables is her first children’s book.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
73 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Mr. A. J. Brannon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well I never thought of that
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A mixture of autobiography and insights into the context that picture books were produced in. As well as the general historical and cultural context we get fascinating insights into writers/illustrators own biographies that framed the books they created. Picture books being what they are there is wonderful information into how particular artists created the images they did. Had me going back to the picture books on my bookshelves with a new appreciation of their craft as well as their message.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Memories
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 January 2025
    A memoir wrapped in a study of the origin of children's picture books, this is wonderful. It shows how culture, history and society shaped books but also how books shaped us as children. I read and owned many of the same books as Pollard growing up, which makes this even more meaningful to read for me. If you enjoyed Lucy Mangan's Bookworm, this is a great companion piece to that.
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  • Nigel Brooks
    4.0 out of 5 stars children's book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2020
    Verified Purchase
    grandaulter loved it
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  • Jen
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 October 2019
    Loved this book. It’s inspired me to read more about the authors discussed in the book and to actually start writing myself. Very enjoyable!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kongaroo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking history of children’s literature
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2020
    Loved this book. Thought provoking, nostalgic, just wonderful!
    One person found this helpful
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  • cdk
    5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute Gem
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2020
    I absolutely adored this book. I bought it initially as an audiobook which was such an absorbing listen (and led me to googling so many things Clare references) that I also bought a paper copy. This is an enchanting read, and being of a similar age to Clare, she mentioned any childhood favourites. I enjoyed way she looked at the history of picture books as well as dissecting the narrative in a way that informed but didn't destroy any of the magic of these classics. I loved the way she wove in stories from her own childhood, and also the way she is rediscovering picture books with her own young family. A wonderful read, I cannot recommend highly enough.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Pamela Scott
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unique insight into stories that she our world
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2020
    Pollard is one of my favourite writers so I tend to devour everything she writes. Fierce Bad Rabbits has been on my radar for ages. The premise sounded really interesting. Some people dismiss picture books as childish and lacking a deeper meaning. How little they know as the opposite is true. Picture books can tackle subjects as deep as adult books. I’ve read a decent amount of picture books as an adult and have also been impressed by how deep they can be. I enjoyed listening to this. A wide spectrum of picture books and themes are covered. I’d heard of most of the picture books discussed and referenced here but there are a few that were completely new to me. This is well presented and engaging.
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  • D. Robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rabbits with Tales Behind
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 September 2019
    [EDIT: rating upped from 4 to 5 after a couple of years' reflection] [SPOILERS THROUGHOUT - APOLOGIES] I bought this book because of a strong interest in writing and illustration for children. Not surprisingly, Clare Pollard can certainly write, with prose that sometimes has a knowingly-poetic ring. Clare is evidently well read, referencing Hemingway, Lee, Stein, Matisse and more; and this “dissertation-with-knobs-on” (not a criticism) has been well researched.
    “Why has no one written this book before?” asks Penelope Lively in the blurb, to which the direct answer is that this work is somewhat autobiographical, with roughly 12.5% comprising a subset of the author’s life story, parts of which are related to books she has read.
    For a work on picture books, this is surprisingly devoid of pictures - fewer than one every 18 pages on average - and they’re all printed in black (ironically, some of its reviews in colour-printed newspapers are more generously illustrated, pro rata); but while fanciful readers might love to see larger pages filled with visuals in sumptuous colour, these would surely prove unrealistic in what remains an esoteric field.
    Clare’s scope is hard to pin down. True picture books did not become a “thing” until allowed by decent colour printing. Alice and Pooh are included, although illustrated novels in general lie out of scope. I agree that the Alice books “are relevant”, but definitive artist Tenniel is mentioned only once in the body text. Meanwhile Herge’s Tintin, a fair balance of words and pictures, understandably falls within the out-of-scope “graphic novel” category, while lapses into “comic” format are allowed in two other books.
    Reflecting the transatlantic nature of the publisher, there’s quite a lot of US (and other international) material here: at one point I had to check that the author isn’t herself American, an impression underlined by her overall tendency towards the “-izing” suffix (with a “zee”) rather than the more British “-ising”, for example.
    As a 70-plus grandfather, I found myself a little alienated by the jargon (while admitting that “circle time”, “Ten O’Clock Club” and “Mumsnet” are all in the 21st Century domain). While the writing is not over-political, the phrases “how to… appeal to the buyer: the mother, the teacher, the librarian” and “our society does not place enough value on children, women, home, care [etc.]”, seem to exclude husbands and fathers.
    Clare points out that the ‘Mr Men’ publisher went for the ‘Little Miss’ option: “Pointedly not ‘Mrs Women’”, but she’ll be aware that ‘Mr Topsy-Turvy’ and ‘Little Miss Tidy’ roll off the tongue better than their ‘Mrs’ equivalents; and both of the used titles are established (almost disparaging) phrases when applied to a target with a stereotypical habit.
    What follows may read like a list of criticisms, but these are merely observations. Clare has written what she felt like writing about, including more than a page on the “Cottingley Fairies”. There are a few slips. We are told that the death of Babar’s mother is the “precursor” to that of Bambi’s; but Felix Salten’s cervine novel was the earlier publication. Clare has been drawn into the common trap of Disney in particular (Jiminy Cricket) and of animation in general, as with the description of Raymond Briggs’s ‘The Snowman’ as “festive”, an adjective immediately dispelled for the book in the same paragraph; while Briggs’s truly festive ‘Father Christmas’ – his best book, and his own favourite - is mentioned only in passing. Kudos to Clare, however, for hinting at a “dream” within ‘The Snowman’, an idea which has been generally overlooked: the narrative works well if the boy has dreamed it, a probability removed by both animations with the introduction of magic.
    It’s a matter of perspective, as Clare is a generation younger than I am, and seems to favour different authors and illustrators. Mr Men boxed sets aside, in a pie graph of the books covered, Julia Donaldson wins hands-down, followed by Allan Ahlberg, with or without his ill-fated first wife, Janet - for me the powerhouse behind their earlier work. I found myself Googling, but some of the finds were slightly disappointing.
    Perspective also accounts for the appeal to the very young Clare of the Ladybird ‘Garden Gang’, easily the worst-executed of at least three similar concepts of the same era. I seem to recall that a parent of the now-hard-to-find junior author-illustrator Jayne Fisher was acquainted with someone at the publisher: so it’s “who you know”.
    “Yes, there are omissions”, says an earlier review. While including the respective artists, Clare mentions the Caldecott Medal but not the Greenaway award. I’m surprised at the inclusion of ‘The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast’ without reference to the 1973 work of almost exactly the same name, with William Plomer adapting Roscoe’s verse and the recently-late Alan Aldridge - the definitive “pop” artist of the 60s and 70s - providing distinctive visuals, with certain almost-horrific elements which might suit this book.
    Since Clare was born in the same year as my elder daughter, I’d be surprised if she hadn’t run across the rabbits in Jill Barklem’s exemplary Brambly Hedge series. Barklem fits the mould, missing games lessons in the school library, conceiving her characters on a hated London Underground commute and passing relatively young at 66 in 2017, her career curtailed by ill health. Jill researched, wrote and drew work which, for my money, was “up there” with Potter, and better than Tempest drew for Uttley.
    Clare reiterates Milne’s marketing of Christopher Robin, but is light on E. H. Shepard, whose illustrations have proved definitive, influencing even the Disney version, and who produced important “serious” paintings and sketches in the trenches during WWII; and what of Alfred Bestall, the Rupert Bear artist who also “auditioned” for Pooh (ostensibly less well than EHS) and whom many consider to be Shepard’s equal: is Rupert regarded as another “comic strip”?
    Full marks for mentioning artist Beek, the real creative genius behind Noddy, his output hi-jacked by Blyton; and Openshaw, the Mary Mouse artist (by the way, “lashings of ginger beer” appeared in no Blyton Famous Five book, only in the TV spoofs by the Comic Strip).
    Then there was Stephen Cartwright; but, enough. I’ll have to write my own book, which probably won’t be as well researched, or as well thought-through, as this one; and I’m sure Clare is a nice person. As a fan of “hard-copy” books and magazines, I acknowledge (and dread) her accurate predictions on future direction for publishers, including the book as one - possibly minor - element of a broader marketing package.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • alessia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
    Reviewed in Italy on 3 May 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting topics, well written book.
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