Beechwood Bunny Tales
Encyclopedia
Beechwood Bunny Tales is a series of children's books
written by French author Geneviève Huriet
and illustrated by Loïc Jouannigot
. The original books have been published in France by Éditions Milan since 1987. English translations of the first seven stories were released in the United States during 1991 and 1992 by Gareth Stevens
Publishers. Including this version, Beechwood has been translated into 23 languages in 19 countries, and has sold about 750,000 copies in its native country.
The books centre around the Bellflower
family of rabbit
s, who live in Beechwood Grove: Papa Bramble
, Aunt Zinnia
, Dandelion, Periwinkle
, Violette, Mistletoe
, and Poppy
. Papa and Aunt share their names with foods, while their five children (and the family itself) are named after flowers. All of the rabbit characters in this series have large, round pink tails.
The books' success in France led to the debut of an animated version
on the TF1
network in late December 2001, which would go on to have 52 episodes produced. The show has aired in several markets worldwide, and released on DVD and VHS in North America.
The series' main characters are the Bellflower rabbits, who live "in a shady corner of Beechwood Grove". There are five children in the family: Poppy, the biggest and the smartest; Violette, the only sister; Dandelion, who mostly resembles his father; Mistletoe, who wears a shirt of red and pink stripes; and Periwinkle, who is mostly shy.
Their father is Bramble, a gardener who is always concerned and caring about his children. Their aunt, Zinnia, can sometimes be a bit angry and serious against them.
Most of the early titles in the Beechwood series centred on each of the children. Aunt Zinnia had a story of her own in 1990 (Aunt Zinnia and the Ogre), and Papa Bramble in 2003 (L'invention d'Onésime Passiflore).
Some of the Bellflowers' foes include Magda, a tricky magpie who tries to make Periwinkle a family embarrassment (in the first book, Periwinkle at the Full Moon Ball
, and the TV episode "Room to Move
"); Jimmy Renard, a cunning fox from Violette's Daring Adventure
; and Kazoar, the highway menace from Aunt Zinnia and the Ogre.
. Loïc Jouannigot has always been the illustrator.
In the United States, Gareth Stevens only published the first seven stories in English, from Periwinkle at the Full Moon Ball to Family Moving Day
, in 1991 and 1992. The translators were MaryLee Knowlton, Amy Bauman and Patricia Lantier-Sampon.
Elsewhere in Europe, the book series is called La Familia Pasaflor (Spain), A Família Passiflore (Portugal), La Famiglia Passiflora (Italy), De Familie Passiebloem (Netherlands), Familie Löwenzahn (Germany), and Tappancsmesék (Hungary).
network in France with four specials during December 24 and December 28, 2001. The 52-episode series was produced early in its run by TVA International
, Melusine
, TF1 and its subsidiary Protécréa
. Later episodes were made by Tooncan
, Euro Visual, and Dragon Cartoon among others. It has also aired on Playhouse Disney
in France, ZDF
and KI.KA
in Germany, CBC/Radio Canada
in Quebec, and the Latin American version of Boomerang
.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written by French author Geneviève Huriet
Geneviève Huriet
Geneviève Huriet is the author of the Beechwood Bunny Tales children's book series. Huriet lives in Paris with her diplomat husband and four children, and has travelled abroad in Japan, Britain, Angola and elsewhere...
and illustrated by Loïc Jouannigot
Loïc Jouannigot
Loïc Jouannigot is a children's book illustrator. A graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts, he has worked for the children's book and advertising industries...
. The original books have been published in France by Éditions Milan since 1987. English translations of the first seven stories were released in the United States during 1991 and 1992 by Gareth Stevens
Gareth Stevens
Gareth Stevens, Inc. is a publishing company originally based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1983 by its namesake owner, a former Briton who moved to Raintree Publishers. The company was owned by Weekly Reader Corporation, part of The Reader's Digest Association...
Publishers. Including this version, Beechwood has been translated into 23 languages in 19 countries, and has sold about 750,000 copies in its native country.
The books centre around the Bellflower
Campanula
Campanula is one of several genera in the family Campanulaceae with the common name bellflower. It takes its name from their bell-shaped flowers—campanula is Latin for "little bell"....
family of rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, who live in Beechwood Grove: Papa Bramble
Bramble
Brambles are thorny plants of the genus Rubus, in the rose family . Bramble fruit is the fruit of any such plant, including the blackberry and raspberry. The word comes from Germanic *bram-bezi, whence also German Brombeere , Dutch Braam and French framboise...
, Aunt Zinnia
Zinnia
Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of family Asteraceae, originally from scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the American Southwest to South America, but primarily Mexico, and notable for their solitary long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright...
, Dandelion, Periwinkle
Periwinkle
Periwinkle may refer to:In fauna:* Periwinkle, a common name for a number of gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae** Common periwinkle ** Blue periwinkle...
, Violette, Mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
, and Poppy
Poppy (given name)
Poppy is a feminine given name derived from the name of the flower "poppy", derived from the Old English popæg and referring to various species of Papaver. The name is rising in popularity in the United Kingdom. It was the 28th most popular name given to baby girls in England and Wales in 2007 and...
. Papa and Aunt share their names with foods, while their five children (and the family itself) are named after flowers. All of the rabbit characters in this series have large, round pink tails.
The books' success in France led to the debut of an animated version
The Bellflower Bunnies
The Bellflower Bunnies is an animated series based on the Beechwood Bunny Tales book series by Geneviève Huriet. The show debuted on the TF1 network with four episodes airing between December 24 and December 28, 2001...
on the TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
network in late December 2001, which would go on to have 52 episodes produced. The show has aired in several markets worldwide, and released on DVD and VHS in North America.
Characters
Their father is Bramble, a gardener who is always concerned and caring about his children. Their aunt, Zinnia, can sometimes be a bit angry and serious against them.
Most of the early titles in the Beechwood series centred on each of the children. Aunt Zinnia had a story of her own in 1990 (Aunt Zinnia and the Ogre), and Papa Bramble in 2003 (L'invention d'Onésime Passiflore).
Some of the Bellflowers' foes include Magda, a tricky magpie who tries to make Periwinkle a family embarrassment (in the first book, Periwinkle at the Full Moon Ball
Periwinkle at the Full Moon Ball
Periwinkle at the Full Moon Ball is the first book in the Beechwood Bunny Tales series. It was originally published by France's Éditions Milan in 1987, and in the United States by Gareth Stevens in 1991...
, and the TV episode "Room to Move
Family Moving Day
Family Moving Day is the seventh book in the Beechwood Bunny Tales series. It was published in 1992 by Éditions Milan in France, and Gareth Stevens in the United States. In the book, the Bellflower family of rabbits move to a new house on the other side of the hill near which they live. Everyone...
"); Jimmy Renard, a cunning fox from Violette's Daring Adventure
Violette's Daring Adventure
Violette's Daring Adventure is the sixth book in the Beechwood Bunny Tales series. It was originally published by France's Éditions Milan in 1991, and in the United States by Gareth Stevens a year later...
; and Kazoar, the highway menace from Aunt Zinnia and the Ogre.
Books
As of , more than thirty Beechwood books from Éditions Milan have sold over 750,000 copies in its native France. Geneviève Huriet has written the entire series, save for the two most recent titles (Qu'as-tu fait, Mistouflet? and L'album photo des Passiflore) by Amélie SarnAmélie Sarn
Amélie Sarn-Cantin is a French author, comic book writer and translator. In 2006, she took over Geneviève Huriet's role as the author of the Beechwood Bunny Tales series, with Qu'as-tu fait, Mistouflet ? and L'album photo des Passiflore.In April 2002, Sarn published her first novel for adults,...
. Loïc Jouannigot has always been the illustrator.
In the United States, Gareth Stevens only published the first seven stories in English, from Periwinkle at the Full Moon Ball to Family Moving Day
Family Moving Day
Family Moving Day is the seventh book in the Beechwood Bunny Tales series. It was published in 1992 by Éditions Milan in France, and Gareth Stevens in the United States. In the book, the Bellflower family of rabbits move to a new house on the other side of the hill near which they live. Everyone...
, in 1991 and 1992. The translators were MaryLee Knowlton, Amy Bauman and Patricia Lantier-Sampon.
Elsewhere in Europe, the book series is called La Familia Pasaflor (Spain), A Família Passiflore (Portugal), La Famiglia Passiflora (Italy), De Familie Passiebloem (Netherlands), Familie Löwenzahn (Germany), and Tappancsmesék (Hungary).
Merchandise
- European toy company RavensburgerRavensburgerRavensburger Spieleverlag GmbH is a German game company. It is a leader in the European puzzle market.-History:The company was founded by Otto Robert Maier with seat in Ravensburg, a town in Upper Swabia in southern Germany. He began publishing in 1883 with his first author contract...
has made jigsaw puzzleJigsaw puzzleA jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture...
s featuring Jouannigot's illustrations from the books.
TV series
The Bellflower Bunnies, an animated TV series based on the books, debuted on the TF1TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
network in France with four specials during December 24 and December 28, 2001. The 52-episode series was produced early in its run by TVA International
TVA (TV network)
TVA is a privately owned French language television network in Canada. The network is currently owned by Groupe TVA Inc. , a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media...
, Melusine
Melusine (company)
Melusine Productions, a division of Studio 352, is an animation company based in Howald, Luxembourg. The studio has produced series such as The Bellflower Bunnies, The Mysteries of Providence and Liberty's Kids.-External links:*...
, TF1 and its subsidiary Protécréa
Protécréa
Protécréa is a subsidiary of French broadcaster TF1, based in Paris. Productions from the company include the animated Paddington Bear and The Bellflower Bunnies, and the 1990s CNBC series Ushuaia: The Ultimate Adventure....
. Later episodes were made by Tooncan
Tooncan
Tooncan is an animation studio based in Montreal, Quebec founded by Paul Cadieux. The company has worked on TF1's The Bellflower Bunnies and Sylvain Chomet's The Triplets of Belleville.-List of programmes:...
, Euro Visual, and Dragon Cartoon among others. It has also aired on Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney was Disney Channel's television block for programs aimed at entertaining preschool aged children, often airing as its own channel outside the United States. It was introduced in 1997 after Disney Channel's move to basic cable from premium cable, with a target audience of children...
in France, ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
and KI.KA
KI.KA
KI.KA is a public non-commercial free television channel based in Erfurt, Germany. It is a joint venture of national public television channels ARD, and ARD's constituent broadcasting institutions – BR, HR, MDR, NDR, Radio Bremen, RBB, Saarländischer Rundfunk, SWR, WDR and ZDF, and is targeted at...
in Germany, CBC/Radio Canada
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in Quebec, and the Latin American version of Boomerang
Boomerang (Latin American TV channel)
Boomerang Latin America is a 24-hour cable television channel owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a unit of Time Warner broadcasting in all Latin America. Initially it was focused on classical series and shows, as the Latin American version of Boomerang from the United States. In 2006, it...
.
See also
- Watership DownWatership DownWatership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
, by British author Richard AdamsRichard AdamsRichard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...