The first appearance of Peter Pan occurred in James M. Barrie's book The Little White Bird, as a story told to a child named Davey. Later, Barrie produced the tale as a seperate book, called Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, in 1906. It was done as a response to the success of his play Peter Pan (sometimes called Peter and Wendy), which was also later made into a book.

The book included illustrations by renowned artist Arthur Rackham. It is about Peter as a baby, living in Kensington Gardens in London with the birds and fairies, refusing to grow up. It is his pre-Neverland days, where he is a little older and fighting Captain Hook.

The book is divided into four parts:

• Part I: Peter Pan
• Part II: The Thrush's Nest
• Part III: The Little House
• Part IV: Lock-Out Time