It’s spring and time for gardens! Nature is bursting out all over, wildlife is emerging after the hidden quiet of winter, so this is a great time to talk about the artist, writer, and naturalist, Beatrix Potter.
Helen Beatrix Potter was born in London in 1866, and published her first and best-known book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, in 1900. She followed it with The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tailor of Gloucester, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and many other books for children.
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail
The Tale of Peter Rabbit begins, “Once upon a time there four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter.” His mother warns the children not to go into Mr. McGregor’s garden, but Peter disobeys and squeezes under the fence to explore the vegetables. While chased around the garden by Mr. McGregor, he loses his clothes, evades a cat, hides in a wet watering can, and finally escapes for home. He is put to bed with chamomile tea instead of supper.
Benjamin and Peter 
The Cat! 
Old Mr. Benjamin Bunny
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny takes us to a subsequent visit to Mr. McGregor’s garden, this time led by Peter’s cousin Benjamin. Peter is reluctant but goes along with Benjamin to recover his jacket and shoes which had been made into a scarecrow after his previous visit. After being held hostage to the cat for five hours, Old Mr. Benjamin, Benjamin’s father come to rescue them – and mete out consequences.
The illustrations are charming and detailed. Potter loved to draw and paint from childhood and had many pets including rabbits, frogs, and mice, and a hedgehog she used as models. She was educated at home and had lots of time to explore nature and observe animals outdoors, so it’s not surprising her stories so often bring us into the animal world. Her characters have personalities all their own, with lessons to learn, and family and friends to teach them.
Along with her books, Potter created a “Peter Rabbit Doll” which became the world’s oldest licensed literary character in 1903. She made other games and toys, and painting books for Jemima Puddle Duck and Peter Rabbit. In 1992 her works were made into an animated TV series called “The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends”. In 2005, a board book, Peter Rabbit Touch and Feel, was published, and in 2006, Beatrix Potter the Complete Tales.
I love the timeless nature of these stories, and I hope you’ll take the time to enjoy them.
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