The Babblebrook Grey Rabbit Family
FATHER ROCKY BABBLEBROOK is the proud owner of the Babblebrook General Store. It is often the busiest shop on the High Street, selling the freshest vegetables, the crispiest fruits and the lightest cakes in all of Sylvania. But Rocky is even more popular than his chocolate eclairs! He tells his customers the tallest of tales with the straightest of faces and no one can wait to hear what he is going to come out with next. Once he asked Cassandra Macavity if she had any vases at home that were big enough for one of his cauliflowers! Another time he told Delia Doughty not to embarrass his blueberries or they would turn bright red! Everyone agrees that Rocky should have been a stand-up comedian rather than a store keeper!
MOTHER CRYSTAL BABBLEBROOK is Rocky's wife and thankfully she loves her husband's tall stories just as much as everyone else in the village. Not that she has very much time to listen to them, of course. Crystal is the best and busiest cook in Sylvania, which is all the more surprising when you learn that her mother-in-law Pearl, who struggles to boil an egg, likes to give Crystal cooking tips! But Crystal doesn't only make scrummy meals for her family back at home, nor does she just make delicious tarts, pies and cakes for her husband to sell in the Grocery Store. This year saw Crystal become a writer too. Her first cookery book 'Crystal's 20 favourite Cupcakes' was a bestseller and now 'Crystal's 30-Minute Carrot Recipes' is flying off the shelves too!
OLDER BROTHER RICHARD BABBLEBROOK works so hard in the family grocery store that Rocky and Crystal don't know what they would do without their eldest son. At the weekends he does everything from stacking the shelves with tins of soup to helping customers bag their groceries. But Richard is quite different from everyone else in the Babblebrook family. He is the strong and silent type, excelling at all sports and most academic subjects, but otherwise very, very shy. As soon as Richard finishes college he wants to be a tree surgeon. His mother thinks that this is because he loves nature so much. But his father suspects that his son's desire to work alone deep in the Sylvanian forest is because it means he won't have to talk to anyone!
OLDER SISTER JUDY BABBLEBROOK could not be more different from her brother, Richard. She is the most outgoing person you will ever have the pleasure to meet. In fact everyone in Sylvania thinks she should have been named something like Breezy or Bubbles because whenever Judy 'breezes' into a room she literally 'bubbles' over with fun and gaiety. When she leaves college next year Judy is looking forward to working in the Babblebrook General Store full time. She really enjoys being behind the till and catching up with everyone's news. But Rocky thinks he might well have to give his friendly daughter every Saturday off – it is just that she spends so long chatting with his customers that the queues get far too long at the weekend!
YOUNGER BROTHER BUBBA BABBLEBROOK is Rocky and Crystal's middle son. When he is not at school he loves to help his father out by riding around the village delivering all his farm-fresh produce. Bubba has an incredible sense of hearing too. No sooner has Theodora Dappledawn stepped onto the High Street, Bubba will warn his father that their best customer is on her way. Of course, this special gift often comes in very useful in the school playground too. His best friend Lucky Snow-Warren only has to open a sweet wrapper and a grinning Bubba will be standing next to him with his hand out “I think my son can hear the grass grow!” Crystal often chuckles to herself!
YOUNGER SISTER BREEZY BABBLEBROOK has a special gift too. There is no one in Sylvania better at getting their own way than Rocky and Crystal's middle daughter! Breezy just has to look at her father with those huge brown eyes of hers and he gives her an extra slice of carrot cake or a big bag of her favourite lemon sherbets. “How can I possibly say no to Breezy when she gives me such a sweet smile?” says Rocky if Crystal ever complains that their daughter is getting rather spoilt. “And surely you noticed how hard she worked in the store today?” Even crystal has to admit that no one sweeps the floor quite as vigorously as breezy!
BABIES CORAL AND SANDY BABBLEBROOK play happily in their playpen whenever it is their father's turn to look after them in the shop. Sandy is quiet but Coral is noisy, especially when she is hungry – and it doesn't matter whether that's for food or attention! Her mother thinks her smallest daughter is going to be quite a handful when she grows up. Her father thinks she could represent Sylvania in the 'Noise Olympics'. Her baby brother Sandy simply wants to know what all the fuss is about!
MOTHER CRYSTAL BABBLEBROOK is Rocky's wife and thankfully she loves her husband's tall stories just as much as everyone else in the village. Not that she has very much time to listen to them, of course. Crystal is the best and busiest cook in Sylvania, which is all the more surprising when you learn that her mother-in-law Pearl, who struggles to boil an egg, likes to give Crystal cooking tips! But Crystal doesn't only make scrummy meals for her family back at home, nor does she just make delicious tarts, pies and cakes for her husband to sell in the Grocery Store. This year saw Crystal become a writer too. Her first cookery book 'Crystal's 20 favourite Cupcakes' was a bestseller and now 'Crystal's 30-Minute Carrot Recipes' is flying off the shelves too!
OLDER BROTHER RICHARD BABBLEBROOK works so hard in the family grocery store that Rocky and Crystal don't know what they would do without their eldest son. At the weekends he does everything from stacking the shelves with tins of soup to helping customers bag their groceries. But Richard is quite different from everyone else in the Babblebrook family. He is the strong and silent type, excelling at all sports and most academic subjects, but otherwise very, very shy. As soon as Richard finishes college he wants to be a tree surgeon. His mother thinks that this is because he loves nature so much. But his father suspects that his son's desire to work alone deep in the Sylvanian forest is because it means he won't have to talk to anyone!
OLDER SISTER JUDY BABBLEBROOK could not be more different from her brother, Richard. She is the most outgoing person you will ever have the pleasure to meet. In fact everyone in Sylvania thinks she should have been named something like Breezy or Bubbles because whenever Judy 'breezes' into a room she literally 'bubbles' over with fun and gaiety. When she leaves college next year Judy is looking forward to working in the Babblebrook General Store full time. She really enjoys being behind the till and catching up with everyone's news. But Rocky thinks he might well have to give his friendly daughter every Saturday off – it is just that she spends so long chatting with his customers that the queues get far too long at the weekend!
YOUNGER BROTHER BUBBA BABBLEBROOK is Rocky and Crystal's middle son. When he is not at school he loves to help his father out by riding around the village delivering all his farm-fresh produce. Bubba has an incredible sense of hearing too. No sooner has Theodora Dappledawn stepped onto the High Street, Bubba will warn his father that their best customer is on her way. Of course, this special gift often comes in very useful in the school playground too. His best friend Lucky Snow-Warren only has to open a sweet wrapper and a grinning Bubba will be standing next to him with his hand out “I think my son can hear the grass grow!” Crystal often chuckles to herself!
YOUNGER SISTER BREEZY BABBLEBROOK has a special gift too. There is no one in Sylvania better at getting their own way than Rocky and Crystal's middle daughter! Breezy just has to look at her father with those huge brown eyes of hers and he gives her an extra slice of carrot cake or a big bag of her favourite lemon sherbets. “How can I possibly say no to Breezy when she gives me such a sweet smile?” says Rocky if Crystal ever complains that their daughter is getting rather spoilt. “And surely you noticed how hard she worked in the store today?” Even crystal has to admit that no one sweeps the floor quite as vigorously as breezy!
BABIES CORAL AND SANDY BABBLEBROOK play happily in their playpen whenever it is their father's turn to look after them in the shop. Sandy is quiet but Coral is noisy, especially when she is hungry – and it doesn't matter whether that's for food or attention! Her mother thinks her smallest daughter is going to be quite a handful when she grows up. Her father thinks she could represent Sylvania in the 'Noise Olympics'. Her baby brother Sandy simply wants to know what all the fuss is about!
GRANDFATHER CLIFF BABBLEBROOK has what is generally called 'the gift of the gab'. His son Rocky is exactly the same, of course, but Cliff is quite happy to leave all the jokes to him. Whenever Cliff is helping out in the family grocery store he likes nothing better than to reminisce with the older customers about life in Syulvania before cars, fridges or televisions. “Yet we all managed perfectly well without them, didn't we?” is the way their long conversations always seem to end. But even the children love listening to 'Grandpa Babblebrook' as they call him. Although perhaps that's because he always gives them a free lollipop just before they leave the shop!
GRANDMOTHER PEARL BABBLEBROOK is the worst cook in Sylvania. Her Carrot Cakes are dry, her Apple Crumbles are burnt and once she even forgot to put turnips in her Turnip Casserole! Her poor husband always eats whatever she puts in front of him though – Cliff loves his wife very much and he would hate to hurt her feelings after all these years. Everyone in the Babblebrook family is just as kindhearted and Crystal even pretends to take Pearl's advice when she's writing one of her cookery books. Of course, for the sake of his business Rocky has to be a little more practical. He allows Pearl to sell cakes in the Babblebrook General Store but not to make any of them – he has his reputation to consider, after all!
GRANDMOTHER PEARL BABBLEBROOK is the worst cook in Sylvania. Her Carrot Cakes are dry, her Apple Crumbles are burnt and once she even forgot to put turnips in her Turnip Casserole! Her poor husband always eats whatever she puts in front of him though – Cliff loves his wife very much and he would hate to hurt her feelings after all these years. Everyone in the Babblebrook family is just as kindhearted and Crystal even pretends to take Pearl's advice when she's writing one of her cookery books. Of course, for the sake of his business Rocky has to be a little more practical. He allows Pearl to sell cakes in the Babblebrook General Store but not to make any of them – he has his reputation to consider, after all!
FATHER PERRY BABBLEBROOK is one of the Village Bus drivers. He usually covers 'The Butlers' when they have a day off or go on holiday. It suits him perfectly as he has two young babies to look after with his wife Anita. When he is not driving the bus, he likes to spend his spare time in his garden shed, tinkering away and making things. He made the cradles for his children and is currently making some shelves for Caprina Nettlefield.
MOTHER ANITA BABBLEBROOK is learning to cook from her sister-in-law Crystal. She did take some lessons from Pearl when she was a newly married bride, not knowing of Pearl's reputation. After the Carrot Crispy Bake she made (from Pearl's recipe) almost broke Perry's tooth, she learned of Pearl's reputation. She now graciously listens to Pearl's advice (but never follows any of it!)
BABIES JOSEPH AND JOSIE BABBLEBROOK love going for day trips on the Village Bus when their father is driving. They like to sit in the seats behind him and watch the world go by. Their favourite song is 'The wheels on the bus' and they often sing it on the bus. The villagers always make such a fuss of them whenever they see them on the bus, which the twins love.
MOTHER ANITA BABBLEBROOK is learning to cook from her sister-in-law Crystal. She did take some lessons from Pearl when she was a newly married bride, not knowing of Pearl's reputation. After the Carrot Crispy Bake she made (from Pearl's recipe) almost broke Perry's tooth, she learned of Pearl's reputation. She now graciously listens to Pearl's advice (but never follows any of it!)
BABIES JOSEPH AND JOSIE BABBLEBROOK love going for day trips on the Village Bus when their father is driving. They like to sit in the seats behind him and watch the world go by. Their favourite song is 'The wheels on the bus' and they often sing it on the bus. The villagers always make such a fuss of them whenever they see them on the bus, which the twins love.
FATHER GEORGE BABBLEBROOK and his darling wife Harriet have a new arrival, a bouncing baby boy called Freddie. George, the proud father, could not wait to take his little bundle of joy to the seaside to play in the golden sands by the shore. George has always loved the seaside, so much in fact, that he moved to a lovely little cottage at Sea Breeze Cape with his family. They run a little beach side shop, selling everything you need for a day at the beach. They call their shop 'Babblebrook's Beach Side Store', and it's a smaller version of his brother, Rocky's shop.
MOTHER HARRIET BABBLEBROOK is kept busy with her new born baby, Freddie. Thankfully her husband George and daughter Michelle are always on hand to help out. Harriet loves living at Sea Breeze Cape, from their living room window you can see the beach and the sea. Harriet bakes all the pastries for the shop, and during summer months makes special packed lunches for customers to take on the beach with them.
SISTER MICHELLE BABBLEBROOK loves having a baby brother. She has always seen her cousins have such big families, that she hopes her parents have lots more children. She is kept very fit, walking to school each day from Sea Breeze Cape, which is a good forty minute walk. Thankfully, when it is winter her father drives her to school, or she would get very cold and wet when it rains!
BABY BROTHER FREDDIE BABBLEBROOK is the latest addition to the Babblebrook family. His grandparents love to visit him and spoil him with lots of gifts. His father loves taking him to the seaside to build sandcastles, while his mother is teaching him to swim. Freddie is quieter than his cousins at present, but wait until he gets older!
MOTHER HARRIET BABBLEBROOK is kept busy with her new born baby, Freddie. Thankfully her husband George and daughter Michelle are always on hand to help out. Harriet loves living at Sea Breeze Cape, from their living room window you can see the beach and the sea. Harriet bakes all the pastries for the shop, and during summer months makes special packed lunches for customers to take on the beach with them.
SISTER MICHELLE BABBLEBROOK loves having a baby brother. She has always seen her cousins have such big families, that she hopes her parents have lots more children. She is kept very fit, walking to school each day from Sea Breeze Cape, which is a good forty minute walk. Thankfully, when it is winter her father drives her to school, or she would get very cold and wet when it rains!
BABY BROTHER FREDDIE BABBLEBROOK is the latest addition to the Babblebrook family. His grandparents love to visit him and spoil him with lots of gifts. His father loves taking him to the seaside to build sandcastles, while his mother is teaching him to swim. Freddie is quieter than his cousins at present, but wait until he gets older!
FATHER ALBERT BABBLEBROOK is a chauffeur, driving the Sylvanian Wedding Car for all the happy couples getting married. When he is not driving for weddings, he runs the local taxi service, driving Sylvanians to their destination. He always helps people with their shopping, taking it to their kitchen for them. He is always happy, and often whistles a cheerful tune while out in his cab.
SISTER PIPPA BABBLEBROOK is a good girl through and through. (Some of her friends say she is almost too good!) That's why she is the most popular Sylvanian bridesmaid, because people know that she will behave properly at weddings and not throw cream cakes. She's the only person in the whole of the forest who knows just how bad Peter Timbertop is, but no one will believe her. It makes her so cross that, although she is a very pretty little girl, she doesn't smile very much. Most of the time she's too busy pinching Peter for putting slugs and spiders down her back!
SISTER MELODY BABBLEBROOK loves to help out in her Uncle Rocky's General Store. She is often there at weekends, with her cousin Breezy, helping to clean or re-stock the shelves. She always sings a song while she is mopping the floors after Breezy has brushed them, her Auntie Crystal says she reminds her of Cinderella at times!
BROTHER RODGER BABBLEBROOK is a very fast runner. He often wins many races at the School Sports Day. People say he is like a blur when he runs as he is so fast. His father Albert jokes that he is faster than his taxi!
BABY BROTHER TIMOTHY BABBLEBROOK can't talk yet – he just grunts and points at anything he wants. Nanny Timbertop is patiently trying to teach him that pointing is rude: “Nanny knows best” she always says as she pushes him around in his big pram. But Timothy just grunts again and points at her with that naughty grin on his face! As you can imagine, being so angelic, he usually gets his own way!
BABIES PATRICK AND PENNY BABBLEBROOK love to finger paint. They often have to be watched though, as once the paint is out they can often be found leaving little finger prints along the walls in their home. Their father Albert has a large tin of paint ready these days to cover up any little fingerprints that won't wash out!
The Babblebrook Grey Rabbit Family are one of the Original families, launched with Sylvanians at the very beginning. When originally launched in Japan, the family came with an older brother and sister, but in the UK they did not. It took the UK twenty years to finally get the older siblings, when they were released in the first Celebration box set, to celebrate twenty years of Sylvanian Families in the UK. The Babblebrooks have had various releases over the years. There was a boxed set of the parents and a baby released as an 'Early Years' set in 1997, to mark the ten year anniversary of Sylvanian Families in the UK. The Early Years set was showing the family in the early days of their marriage, and the only other families to get an Early Years set were the Timbertops and McBurrows. The grandparent figures were also released during this time. Grandmother Pearl came with a kitchen furniture set, while Grandfather Cliff came with a book. Pippa the bridesmaid was an exclusive figure for the token collectors club, coming with pageboy Peter Timbertop. Baby Timothy came with Nanny Timbertop as a set. There was a release of the Babblebrooks wearing different clothing, which I believe to be the middle to late 1990s. In 2013, relatives of the Babblebrooks were released in the UK, as a family set of three, parents and baby. These were originally released in Europe as part of the 'Easy Buy' range, a cheaper Sylvanian. The sister was exclusive to the European market. When released in the UK, the set came with a few small accessories. A couple of the other Easy Buy sets were released around the same time.
SISTER PIPPA BABBLEBROOK is a good girl through and through. (Some of her friends say she is almost too good!) That's why she is the most popular Sylvanian bridesmaid, because people know that she will behave properly at weddings and not throw cream cakes. She's the only person in the whole of the forest who knows just how bad Peter Timbertop is, but no one will believe her. It makes her so cross that, although she is a very pretty little girl, she doesn't smile very much. Most of the time she's too busy pinching Peter for putting slugs and spiders down her back!
SISTER MELODY BABBLEBROOK loves to help out in her Uncle Rocky's General Store. She is often there at weekends, with her cousin Breezy, helping to clean or re-stock the shelves. She always sings a song while she is mopping the floors after Breezy has brushed them, her Auntie Crystal says she reminds her of Cinderella at times!
BROTHER RODGER BABBLEBROOK is a very fast runner. He often wins many races at the School Sports Day. People say he is like a blur when he runs as he is so fast. His father Albert jokes that he is faster than his taxi!
BABY BROTHER TIMOTHY BABBLEBROOK can't talk yet – he just grunts and points at anything he wants. Nanny Timbertop is patiently trying to teach him that pointing is rude: “Nanny knows best” she always says as she pushes him around in his big pram. But Timothy just grunts again and points at her with that naughty grin on his face! As you can imagine, being so angelic, he usually gets his own way!
BABIES PATRICK AND PENNY BABBLEBROOK love to finger paint. They often have to be watched though, as once the paint is out they can often be found leaving little finger prints along the walls in their home. Their father Albert has a large tin of paint ready these days to cover up any little fingerprints that won't wash out!
The Babblebrook Grey Rabbit Family are one of the Original families, launched with Sylvanians at the very beginning. When originally launched in Japan, the family came with an older brother and sister, but in the UK they did not. It took the UK twenty years to finally get the older siblings, when they were released in the first Celebration box set, to celebrate twenty years of Sylvanian Families in the UK. The Babblebrooks have had various releases over the years. There was a boxed set of the parents and a baby released as an 'Early Years' set in 1997, to mark the ten year anniversary of Sylvanian Families in the UK. The Early Years set was showing the family in the early days of their marriage, and the only other families to get an Early Years set were the Timbertops and McBurrows. The grandparent figures were also released during this time. Grandmother Pearl came with a kitchen furniture set, while Grandfather Cliff came with a book. Pippa the bridesmaid was an exclusive figure for the token collectors club, coming with pageboy Peter Timbertop. Baby Timothy came with Nanny Timbertop as a set. There was a release of the Babblebrooks wearing different clothing, which I believe to be the middle to late 1990s. In 2013, relatives of the Babblebrooks were released in the UK, as a family set of three, parents and baby. These were originally released in Europe as part of the 'Easy Buy' range, a cheaper Sylvanian. The sister was exclusive to the European market. When released in the UK, the set came with a few small accessories. A couple of the other Easy Buy sets were released around the same time.