Beatrix Potter

by Alexandra Wallner

The life story of the author (1866-1943) of many beloved children's books.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Childrens, Nonfiction, 20th Century

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Alexandra Wallner was born in Germany. Not able to speak English when she immigrated to the United States, she almost flunked first grade. But with the help of comic books--Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck, Katy Keene, Little Lulu--she learned her new language. Words and pictures together lit the spark for her future career.

After graduating from Pratt Institute’s Fine Art Program with an MFA and enjoying a brief stint in magazine design, she started collaborating with her husband John in creating children’s books.

Not limited to a love for children's books, Alex and John have a passion for renovating and working in old houses. In Woodstock, N. Y. they renovated an 1850’s farmhouse. They restored an 1865 townhouse in Philadelphia and remodeled a 1920's Maine island cottage.

During the long Maine winters, Alex started taking notes for a story about Sylvia and Max Saltwater and their encounters with island folk. The notes evolved into PINOCCHIO ISLAND.

They started thinking about warmer places to live when Alex became weary of slipping on ice. Breaking precedence, they moved to a warm climate into a newly built Florida house. Unfortunately soon after, they experienced three hurricanes in six weeks.

Continuing their gypsy ways, they moved to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where they restored a mid-nineteenth century casa and added two studios in the back of the garden.

They care for an elderly Jack Russell, a family of cats, a rambunctious iguana, and a sprinkling of geckos.

Alex threw out the moving boxes and swears this is her final home.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style was pleasant enough and seemed to touch upon many key moments in Potter's life. (It should be noted I am in no way an expert on her life -- what I know is pieced together from here and there and, I'm sorry to say, mostly comes from the "Miss Potter" film.) However, I was disappointed that the illustrations, while not unpleasant, didn't evoke a style more similar to that of Potter's own. I realize this is a personal preference and perhaps shouldn't be a criticism of the book itself. However, what IS a true criticism, I believe, is the lack of a bibliography. There is no dearth of biographical sources for Potter's life and failure to include any of them is, I feel, not good scholarship.

Two new picture book biographies on Potter are debuting this year and I'm hoping to get my hands on both eventually:
Beatrix Potter, Scientist
and
Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit

[Miri Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book actually made me a little disappointed in the movie Miss Potter, which I love, because it seems like Beatrix Potter was even more fantastic than they showed her. She actually printed her first book on her own, and it wasn't until it sold very successfully that the Warne publishers would even consider her. The more I learn about her, the more I wish I could have known her. I think we would have been friends.

[Laurie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This is a beautiful picture book biography of Beatrix Potter. While not reminiscent of Potter's own artwork, the illustrations here are lovely. I honestly didn't know much about Beatrix Potter before, but after reading this little book, I really want to get to know her! She seems like a kindred spirit. I love her quote at the end: "If I have done anything - even a little to help small children on the road to enjoy and appreciate honest, simple pleasures, I have done a bit of good." Beautiful.

I'm deducting half a star only because there is no bibliographic information, which should always be included in nonfiction.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly charming delight.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect choice for kids who are fans of Peter Rabbit or any of Potter's other stories. Here, we meet Beatrice and her brother as children, studying under a governess. Their friends -- mostly animal-- are introduced and Beatrice spends time studying and painting her little pets. She writes her first story as a letter to her friend's son.

There's enough text to answer a child's questions without being overwhelming. The art adds details about the time and context.

I don't know enough about Potter to comment about accuracy.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author condenses this children's book on Beatrix Potter's life with beautiful paintings. One thing that stood out to me was the fact, as the author refers to several times, that Beatrix and her brother grew up lonely, but it did not hold both of them back from being successful adults, each in their own way.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated with just the right amount of storytelling makes this a delightful picture biography of Beatrix Potter. The pictures on the pages are bright, cheerful and filled with enchanting depictions of animals and people. Children and adults will enjoy this book. I learned a few new facts about Ms. Potter and have acquired two more favorite book illustrators-Alexandra and David Wallner!

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeously illustrated mini biography of the life of Beatrix Potter - perfect to read to children who love Ms. Potter's books. I enjoyed every page and learned a lot while reading this story. If you love Beatrix Potter, this is a must to add to your collection.

[Christie Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming picture book biography. I think what would have made it better is if the illustrations had maybe tried to copy her style or been a bit better. Overall, a sweet introduction to Ms. Potter and her work.

[Audrey Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade level: Pre-k-3rd | Genre: Biography
This book does a good job condensing a lot of information into a picture book. Although the illustrations aren't similar to Beatrix Potter's own style, I think they're still quite enjoyable.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting book about the life of Beatrix potter. it tells of how writing was not her first passion or choice and gives personal information. a good book to start kids on biographies.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

very sad...

[Elizabetine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was sweet and nicely illustrated

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little sunshine 🌞 for my day.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for biographies

Making Meaning Grade 2 Resource Kit

[CFAITC]

Learn the story of the author Beatrix Potter, the author of the famous stories about Peter Rabbit.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are very pedestrian, unlike those of Potter herself. A shame. Very little information is given about her books.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always interesting to read about the author of our favorite books...krb 11/25/16

[Jenna Snyder]

Title: Beatrix Potter
Author: Alexandra Wallner
Illustrator: Alexandra Wallner
Genre: Biography (Grade k-2)
Theme(s): Beatrix Potter’s life, Women Artists, Women Authors
Opening line/sentence: Helen Beatrix Potter was born in London, England on July 28, 1866.
Brief Book Summary: A picture book about Beatrix Potter, the painter and writer of twenty-three published “tales”. This picture book goes through a quick time-line of Beatrix Potter’s life from when she was born in 1866 until her death in 1943. The book mentions some of her struggles throughout life as well as her grand successes.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Susan Dove Lempke (Booklist, Sept. 1, 1995 (Vol. 92, No. 1))
Though Beatrix Potter's childhood was both lonely and isolated, it gave her plenty of opportunity for practicing painting and drawing and for closely observing the secret store of animals she kept. Stymied by gender in her quest to publish her scientific research on mushrooms, she reworked a story she had once written in a letter, thus beginning a very successful career as a children's writer and creating such memorable animal folk as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Tom Kitten. In the final third of her life, Potter married and turned her attention to farming and conservation. Wallner simply and clearly outlines Potter's life, without sweetening the sometimes bleak, unhappy periods. Her paintings incorporate many of the natural motifs found in Potter's work, but her flat, folk-art technique in no way imitates Potter's style. For almost 100 years, Potter's cast of refreshingly naughty creatures has entertained readers, and this book is a fine choice to help children learn about the characters' creator. Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1995)
Wallner (Betsy Ross, 1994) has written a beginning biography of a woman as familiar to children as Mother Goose, but whose life is much easier to track. An easy-to-read, factual text, a straightforward chronological organization, and colorful, faux-na f paintings of well-researched settings characterize the approach. She helpfully includes an afterword listing Potter's twenty-three animal tales for children, but no bibliography or source notes. Several children's biographies of Potter are in print; it's good to have one for this audience.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The second reviewer noticed that even though the book seemed well-researched because of all of the details and specifics, the author doesn’t have a bibliography of where she found these facts about Beatrix Potter. Because there is no bibliography, it takes away from the author’s credibility because we do not know if her facts came from a reliable source. The first reviewer makes a point that the illustrations of the book include a lot of details and are great for story telling, however they aren’t nearly as beautiful as Beatrix Potter’s were. Both agree the book is an easy read for younger children.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations of the book are very detailed and are harmonious with the text. The author writes the story in chronological order so the story has good flow and is easy to follow. At the end the author adds a page that includes all of Potter’s famous “tales” so children can read them if they were inspired by Potter’s biography.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would definitely use this book during a unit of Beatrix Potter’s books. During the unit we would read a few of her tales, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, being one. An extension activity I would use for The Tale of Peter Rabbit would be to have my students color in illustrations of the book after we read it. After I would have them order the pages as they occurred in the story. Another activity I would use from this biography is for my students to see how many words they can make from BEATRIX POTTER.