My thoughts: I have a strong fondness of picturebook biographies as ways to introduce children to the real world and increase their desire to learn more about the people who have made things happen throughout history. In Beatrix and her Friends, children can read and visualize a woman who succeeded in creating greatly beloved children's books and getting them published; and this was done during a period of time when getting the creative work of women authors published, and even the type of book - a children's picturebook - was something just simply not done or even thought to be welcomed.
This children's picture biography shows how Beatrix had always had an affinity to animals, especially small critters - mice, rats, rabbits. Using her artistic talent and story telling abilities to tell sweet stories about her critter friends and then achieving the momentous task of getting them published is a story worth telling to young readers. It tells of overcoming obstacles, pursing what you love to do, sticking to a goal, and developing one's talents.
Beautifully illustrated using watercolors in soft and natural tones this book speaks again to the sweetness of the stories and books Beatrix created that told the tale of her beloved little critter friends.
I recommend this book.
About the book: A Beatrix Potter biography that brings to life the creatures of the natural world she loved and the many endearing animal characters she created.
Beatrix Potter remains one of the most beloved creators of children’s books, beginning with The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902 and continuing through 23 more Little Tale titles. Potter’s stories featured a world of unforgettable animal characters that have entertained youngsters for several generations. But Potter was more than a children’s author— she was also an accomplished artist, a forward-looking farmer, and a committed preservationist. In her later years, she helped save over 4,000 acres of farms and wooded areas in the Lake District region of England.
Born in 1866, Beatrix grew up in a big house in London. Her Victorian parents rarely interacted with Beatrix and hesitated to let her associate with other children fearing illness. She was taught at home by governesses. She relished family vacations in the countryside, where she could roam freely in the nearby fields and forests and observe the wonders of nature. Back home, confined mainly to the third floor of the house, Beatrix and her younger brother invented their own entertainment. Over the years, they brought all kinds of animals into their nursery, a veritable zoo. Beatrix, who loved to draw, spent hours every day sketching each creature, especially the mice and rabbits. A favorite among her many animals was the rabbit she named Peter Piper.
Perhaps because of her solitary existence Beatrix developed a rich inner life centered on the animals in their natural habitats and in her imagination. Her children’s books evolved from illustrated letters she wrote to the children of her former governess, Annie Moore.
This picture book biography recounts the life of Beatrix Potter in broad strokes with a focus on the joy and comfort she found in her animals, real and imagined. It is a charming book written and illustrated by a bright young talent and it will appear in time for the 160th anniversary of Potter’s birth. With the reissue of the Little Tales in 2002, a new generation of children have come to love Beatrix Potter and all her wonderful characters.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
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