The Tale of The Pie and The Patty-Pan: The original and authorized edition

Once upon a time there was a Pussy-cat called Ribby, who invited a little dog called Duchess, to tea.

Now you might think it a strange thing for a pussy-cat to invite a dog for tea and some people might agree with you. When Duchess gets her invitation to tea to eat a very special pie, in a pink and white dish, she is very surprised, since she was about to invite Ribby for tea herself and had made a lovely pie for the occasion in just such a dish.

Then Duchess starts to worry, perhaps the pie that Ribby has made will be a mouse pie. She doesn’t like mouse pie very much at all. Then Duchess has a cunning idea, perhaps there is a way that she can make an exchange of the pies, unluckily for Duchess, things aren’t nearly as simple as she might have liked.

One of the world’s greatest children’s writers and illustrators, Beatrix Potter created some of the most recognisable characters in English literature, including [Peter Rabbit](/book/the-tale-of-peter-rabbit/beatrix-potter/9780723247708), [Jemima Puddle-Duck](/book/the-tale-of-jemima-puddle-duck/beatrix-potter/beatrix-potter/9780723247784) and [Benjamin Bunny](/book/the-tale-of-benjamin-bunny/beatrix-potter/beatrix-potter/9780723247739).

Today Beatrix Potter's original twenty-three tales are still published by Frederick Warne, alongside a wide range of other formats including baby books, sound books, christening gifts and more. These original editions bring the world of Beatrix Potter to life just as readers have enjoyed them for generations. The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan, the seventh book to be published, is number seventeen in her series of charming stories.

Find out more about Beatrix Potter and browse the full range of Waterstones products on our [Beatrix Potter page](/author/beatrix-potter).