2016 is amazing because we’re getting a new Beatrix Potter story

Guess what? Your childhood isn’t actually over, since a publisher at Penguin Random House, Jo Hanks, just discovered a new Beatrix Potter story that nobody ever knew about. Jo stumbled upon a reference to a mysterious character called “Kitty-in-Boots” in a book about Beatrix Potter back in 2013, and after perusing the archives at London’s Victoria & Albert museum, she finally found its source, The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots.

Publishers wanted to wait until 2016 to publish the story since this year marks the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth. It’s a fitting tale to mark her birthday, containing a lot of the themes and characters we know and love. Jo explained this to The Bookseller, saying, “The tale really is the best of Beatrix Potter. It has double identities, colourful villains and a number of favourite characters from other tales — most excitingly, Peter Rabbit makes an appearance, albeit older, slower and portlier.”

You heard that correctly: Peter Rabbit is back.

The story was written a long, long time ago in 1914, and was likely lost when Penguin Random House bought Frederick Warne & Co over 60 years later. Penguin assumes it was never published because things like the war, marriage, and her farm got in the way.

We’re sure it’s worth the wait. The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots will be released in hardback this September in Britain, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

(Image via the BBC)