Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Sweet GCI adaptation has some nervous moments for tots.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale is a CGI rendering of Beatrix Potter's beloved characters in a delightful holiday story about growing up, being responsible, and making good decisions. There are some tense moments when the bunnies come face to face with a sly fox who wants to eat them for dinner and when Peter trespasses in the McGregors' garden, but only the youngest kids might fear the outcome. Ultimately, viewers of all ages will find heartwarming messages perfect for the holidays in the show's themes of friendship, family relationships, and caring for others.

  • The show intends to entertain rather than to educate, but there are some positive messages about following directions, staying on task, and solving unexpected problems.
  • Peter learns the importance of being reliable when you make promises to people, and he and his friends have to be creative in how they solve the problems that arise on their journey. Peter disregards his mother's advice and finds that doing so has consequences. Themes of friendship, generosity, and the holiday spirit are strong throughout. On the down side, the fact that Peter steals a wheelbarrow from Mr. McGregor seems to go unnoticed -- and thus unpunished -- by anyone.
  • Peter learns from his mistakes and shows a desire to make better decisions in the future. He's clever, helpful, and willing to ask for help when he needs it. The grown-ups around him (and his mom in particular) are good examples of patience and forgiveness, even when it takes him a few tries to get things right.
  • Peter and his friends narrowly escape a fox's efforts to catch and eat them, and there are some frightful moments when the fox lurks around corners and behind trees to try to snatch them. Peter also flirts with danger in Mr. McGregor's garden, but he escapes unnoticed by everyone but the cat. References are made to Peter's father's absence, but the reason why he's gone (which is explained in the books) isn't clarified.

What's the story?

In PETER RABBIT'S CHRISTMAS TALE, Peter (voiced by Colin De Paula) steps in to make Christmas supply deliveries to his neighbors when the town courier, Mr. Bouncer (John White), catches a cold -- but his journey to the store and back is fraught with mishaps. Along the way, Peter and his pal Benjamin (Peter Harris) encounter Mr. Tod (Mark Huckerby), who tries to catch them for his supper; they lose their shopping list but find a new friend in Lily (Michaela Dean); and they have to brave Mr. McGregor's garden to replace Peter's sled when it meets a mishap. With time short and a blizzard bearing down, will Peter make it home in time to deliver the supplies and spend Christmas with his family?


Is it any good?

 

Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale is a re-imagining of Beatrix Potter's classic stories about the mischievous boy bunny, his family, and their neighboring woodland creatures. The creators took obvious care in giving the characters a fresh look (complemented by modern CGI) while staying true to Potter's beloved illustrations, resulting in a format that accentuates Peter's exuberant personality. Kids will love watching as Peter and his friends wiggle their way out of one sticky situation after another, and parents will appreciate the story's messages about responsibility and solving problems.

One thing the story doesn't have, however, is a father figure for Peter, a plot point that's impossible to overlook because of the characters' frequent references to it. If you've read the original stories, then you know about Peter's dad's fateful visit to the McGregors' garden, but if your kids don't know the back story, they'll probably turn to you for the details. The upside of this is that Peter's single mom gets a starring role, and her gentle affection for her mischief-prone son is a sweet testament to the relationship between parents and their kids.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about how Peter and his friends escape the troubles they encounter. Would you have done anything differently if you were in the same situation? What consequences do they face from their actions?

  • Kids: What responsibilities do you have at home? In school? Are you always good about fulfilling them? What happens if you don't? How do your actions affect others?

  • Parents and their kids can talk about how this show compares to Beatrix Potter's original Peter Rabbit books. Do the characters look different on the screen? Do the visual changes help the story? Why or why not? Why do you think viewers never get to see Mr. McGregor's face?


This review of Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale was written by
Parent of 10 year old
December 17, 2012
 
It was a great famiiy show and felt very comforting to watch with the ones you love.
I would definitely encourage kids to watch. Great lessons to learn and shows kindness and love.
What other families should know:

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent
February 7, 2013
 
NO!!!!!
Too much violence! My kids were clearly shaken, and even walked in on me and my husband making love. Apparently, he was wanting to sleep in our bed for the night because he was afraid a fox would come and eat him. We didn't know he walked in. He crawled in bed with us WHILE WE WERE MAKING LOVE. I can't say for sure, but I think he was inspired to do so from the show. Either way, this smut is not right for my kids.
What other families should know:

Flag as inappropriate 

This review of Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale was written by
This review of Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale was written by
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Learning Products Quick Finder