Beatrix

by Jeanette Winter

Captures the artist's life and work

Beatrix Potter's childhood was characterized by a distinctly Victorian mixture of privilege and neglect. Her parents were distant and distracted, so she was left largely to her own devices. She found companionship in nature, in the small animals she met in the family's garden and in the countryside on summer visits. And she found happiness in drawing and writing stories about her animal friends, later the inspiration for The Tale of Peter Rabbit and her twenty-two other books.

Beatrix Potter's own words, taken from her letters and journals, are incorporated in Jeanette Winter’s book -- just slightly larger than Beatrix Potter’s little books -- and this portrait pays a glowing tribute to the grande dame of children’s literature.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Childrens, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Art

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2003

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsically told story of young Beatrix Potter's lonely childhood which led her to a fascination with young critters of all sorts, eventually drawing and then writing stories about them. My mother-in-law loves the books of Beatrix Potter so this seemed like the perfect gift for her. She isn't a big reader but loves picture books.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely introduction to Beatrix Potter for young people.

[Dewi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Jeanette Winter...
tak pernah berhenti membuatku terkesima.
Kali ini dia membawakan cerita tentang masa kecil Beatrix Potter. Beatrix kecil yang kesepian dan tak punya teman, menemukan kebahagiaan ketika mengamati hewan-hewan kecil di sekelilingnya. Beatrix mengarang cerita untuk menghibur dirinya sendiri.
Hey, siapa sangka cerita-cerita Beatrix ini sangat menarik bagi anak-anak kecil. Sampai saat ini Beatrix Potter dikenal sebagai penulis cerita dan seorang ilustrator handal.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little portrait of the author and artist Beatrix Potter. She includes the scope of a life in a book that fits in the hand. Darling illustrations by the author.

[Catwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's literature, picture book, simple biography - ©2003 Reading level 3rd grade, interest level 3rd grade+
This simple biography was written using Beatrix Potter's letters and notes. A delight for children with an interest in Beatrix Potter books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeanette Winter's simple biography is the perfect introduction to Beatrix Potter for younger elementary readers. Potter, a well-to-do young lady raised in London, is left alone by her parents and forms friendships with animals. Winter describes how Potter befriends rabbits and mice, and how she learns to draw. Her first story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was written for a governess's sick young boy. After earning enough money from her stories for children, Potter moved to the country to enjoy a peaceful, animal-filled life.

I loved that this book is published in a small form. The second grade teachers in my school do a mini-Potter unit every spring and this is a great book to add to our collection. Recommended as a compliment for collections that already include Potter's beloved stories.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

With all these books, it was interesting to see how much inspiration they gathered from their everyday lives and experiences. It was also nice to read about their perseverance despite setbacks.

With Lucy Maude Montgomery, I saw so much of Anne Shirley in her. It was great and interesting to read about a writer of one of my favorite books.

In the little book Beatrix, Jeanette Winters takes on the persona of Beatrix Potter using some of the celebrated author’s own words!

In The Road to Oz, we travel the route L. Frank Baum took over his life to write one of children’s literature most beloved and influential novels. The standout though were the illustrations by Kevin Hawkes. I love how the pictures hinted of Oz and gives off that feel throughout.

[Judi Paradis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends of Mrs. Johnson at Plympton School know that Beatrix Potter wrote lovely little tales about Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, Two Bad Mice, and lots of other little creatures. In this very short biography--perfect for second and third graders--Jeannette Winter uses lots of Beatrix Potter's own words to tell us how she came to know so much about animals, and to write such clever stories about them. Beatrix's life was not an easy one--but she worked very hard at her drawings and stories, and her life has a happy ending

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short biography of the woman who write Peter Rabbit, Jeanette Winter draws from Potter’s own letter and journals to construct the tales (as it were) of the author.

What I thought: Utterly charming and quite perfect for a Beatrix Potter’s many small fans. I liked that Winter did not try to mimic Potter’s illustration style. Her illustrations suit the biography perfectly.

Story Time Idea: Beatrix Potter program- read this biography along with some of Potter’s tales.

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small, succinct and pleasant book about Beatrix Potter. Even though the book itself shows a very unhappy girl and is a slightly somber and sad story, I felt like the narrative was true to the life she led. I really enjoyed the actual quotes from Beatrix's own letters scattered throughout the story. I'm very glad I read it.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a little book, but worth noting as it is the best children's book about Beatrix Potter that I've read. It is written in first person as if Beatrix herself was telling the story.

[Katie Darrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for discussions about overcoming obstacles (Beatrix was basically ignored during childhood; this book was published much smaller than most picture books, similar to Beatrix Potter's books

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated introduction to the life and influences of Beatrix Potter.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful introduction to Beatrix Potter's life and inspirations. And it is small! Perfect to sit on the shelf next to all her little books.