Becoming Beatrix: The Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit

by Amy M. O'Quinn

Beatrix Potter forged her own creative path to independence, fame, and financial success.
 
Peter Rabbit, Hunca Munca, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddle-Duck—many readers are familiar with the animal characters created by British author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. But she was so much more than a painter of watercolor bunnies in little blue jackets or ducks waddling about in bonnets and shawls. She was a natural scientist, mycologist, environmentalist, preservationist, farmer, and expert sheep breeder. Beatrix Potter was a woman ahead of her time, making her own decisions and handling her own business affairs despite living in a Victorian society that was unaccustomed to unmarried women doing so.
 
Becoming Beatrix  covers Potter’s early life and influences, artistic work, fascination with animals and the natural sciences, and interest and research in fungi, as well as her writing and illustration journey and her later years as a wife, farmer, businesswoman, and conservationist. 
 
This is the story of Beatrix beyond the bunnies.
 

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens

164 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2022

About the author

Amy O'Quinn is a children's non-fiction author who lives with her family in rural south Georgia. She and her husband, Chad, have six children--ages 31 (twins) down to 16. She is an educator, biographer, historian, and speaker. Amy has been a published freelance writer for over thirty-three years, and her work has appeared in many children's, educational, and regional publications, and on various websites.

Her book, Marie Curie for Kids: Her Life and Scientific Discoveries, with 21 Activities and Experiments was published by Chicago Review Press in 2016, and it is part of their popular 'For Kids' series. It tells the life story of the incomparable Marie Curie, the Polish-born, two-time Nobel Prize-winning scientist/physicist--and her struggles, successes, and legacy. The book also includes many fun and interesting hands-on experiments and activities.

Amy's second book, Nikola Tesla for Kids, (also published by CRP) was released in July 2019., and her third book, Becoming Beatrix: The Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit , a middle-grade bio about Beatrix Potter was released in March of 2022.

Amy loves to research new ideas and write about intriguing topics and people. Her greatest goal is to make history and science come alive for young readers!

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my 1st MG non-fiction, & I absolutely loved it! Beatrix Potter was such an amazing woman! I learned so much about her, & I had an incredible time with this. What a life she lived. Beatrix Potter forged her own creative path to independence, fame, & financial success. Peter Rabbit, Hunca Munca, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddle-Duck—many readers are familiar with the animal characters created by British author & illustrator Beatrix Potter. But she was so much more than a painter of watercolor bunnies in little blue jackets or ducks waddling about in bonnets & shawls. She was a natural scientist, mycologist, environmentalist, preservationist, farmer, & expert sheep breeder. Beatrix Potter was a woman ahead of her time, making her own decisions & handling her own business affairs despite living in a Victorian society that was unaccustomed to unmarried women doing so. I loved learning more about, not only her as an author, but her as a person with all of her other interests, hobbies, & passions. She was truly extraordinary. I loved that even with the restrictions of Victorian era society, & a very strict mother, she made her own path in life, & accomplished so much. She was able to support herself as a single woman, away from her parents money-which is huge for that time period. Her love for her brother, all the animals she had growing up(many her parents knew nothing of lol), her passion for & study of fungi, & even her love of Herdwick sheep. She helped so many people over the course of her life-even sheep! Lol She was also a champion of the land she loved, & saved so much of it. Plus, everything she left to the National Trust is just amazing. I loved getting to learn about her from a girl to her final days. Reading some of her diary entries, letters, & seeing photos, & early writing & illustrations. She was so incredibly smart. She had a great head for business, & a love/fascination with natural science. Incredible woman ahead of her time. Written in such an engaging way as well, & the flow was superb. Highly recommend! 💜

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting biography about the woman who created those tiny little books with the beautiful watercolor pictures everyone loves! The photographs of Beatrix and the places she lived also add a charming touch to this book. To think, visitors to her last home can see it just as she left it in 1943, even to her shoes under her chair!

[Cosmic Arcata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting and fun read. It made me want to visit her farm (unfortunately I don't live close). I wanted to read her books and start drawing again. A delight to read.

[Gracie Schlabach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little read on a well loved classic author of not only her generation, but ours also. I have never met somebody that hasn't heard of her work in Peter Rabbit alone. I especially enjoyed the chapters of her childhood as a wealthy victorian child and how posh that life was, but in Beatrix's eyes, dull and lonely. So many interesting facts on her private life, was so happy to read about her happily ever after, and her preservation of both lands and livestock. Fans of Beatrix Potter look no further, an endearing read and way to imagine the characters she created coming to life right before your eyes through her life story.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved the stories of Beatrix Potter but have never read anything about Beatrix herself. I received “Becoming Beatrix” as a gift (thank you, Lynn ❤️). So before reading it, I wanted to reread the tales of Squirrel Nutkin, Benjamin, Hunca Munca and all the Potter menagerie. I forgot how prolific Beatrix was. So I interrupted my Potter Anthology and began “Becoming Beatrix”. I am happy I did, for now I know the background to each one of her stories. Beatrix grew up in a wealthy household in Victorian times where children were rarely seen or heard. She and her brother, Bertram were more or less raised by Governesses and Nannies. Both of her parents were artistic and valued education. So both children were encouraged to learn, to appreciate nature and to study using their own artistic means. The Potter children loved all things in nature and especially loved their summers out of the city in the English countryside. Beatrix may have been a dutiful Victorian daughter but she was an anomaly in that she was an astute businesswoman. She made mistakes but learned from them. She learned to protect her creations through copyrights and to elicit help when it was needed. Her books were very popular and allowed her the unique position of having earned her own money….(Loved her role in the Walt Disney negotiations). She found love late in life and led a peaceful and fulfilling life on her growing farm. Becoming Beatrix is a fascinating tribute to a woman who continues to be a well-loved and admired author. I will enjoy her stories even more now.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about Beatrix Potter’s love of the natural world! Descriptions of her farm in the Lake District make me want to visit. Would also like to see the exhibit of her works that is in the US now. A beautiful little book.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the interesting life of Beatrix Potter. I didn't know a lot about her prior to this.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi library Nonfiction Book Discussion group title January 2026.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becoming Beatrix is a biography for children about the famed author Beatrix Potter. The difference about this little biography is that it is less focused on her published works and emphasized more on her other hobbies and interests. Much of which, is either glossed over or unknown to much of the general public. Born into a new-money family, Beatrix's childhood was carefree to a point that the roots of her interests in nature, painting & farming took place at this time. Though these interests would be a comfort for her, she was to remain isolated from her peers and be under the thumb of her rigid parents for much of her life. Despite the restrictiveness of Victorian society, Beatrix attempted to make her own life, one that is simplistic and devoted to her studies of nature.

Amy M. O'Quinn goes into how Beatrix persevered through numerous rejections before getting her books published, became one of the trailblazers for conservation and even came up with her own scientific studies on fungi when they were still unknown. Though Beatrix shunned the celebrity lifestyle and admitted to despising changes in her society, she was one of those women who we can say was ahead of her time. While still controlled by her parents, she did make her own living, own her own property, did research in a very male-centric field, and even got to marry a man of her choice. Beatrix Potter was one heck of a workaholic and multitasker when it came to her own efforts of making the life she always dreamed of.

The writing is very smooth and easy-to-read, each chapter going into much detail as it can without being to overblown for young readers to follow. Each chapter also features a certain quote from Ms. Potter's own diary along with illustrations from her books and loaned photographs from the Beatrix Potter Society, many of which gave an intimate look into the early life of a girl who would become one of the most beloved authors of all times. I would say this book is excellent in presenting the world she lived in and the influences that played a role in her aspirations that contributed to many modern science ideas we have now.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of artist, author, and naturalist Beatrix Potter.

This was amazingly well done. I really liked that the author did extensive research into the mores of the time period to understand why Beatrix's family did things certain ways and why Beatrix responded in certain ways. She did an excellent job of breaking these things down for readers and explaining how at that time and in that culture ___ was the expected response and that though certain things may rub 21st century readers wrong, for the time period it was considered appropriate. She helps readers step into Beatrix's shoes and mindset. This would be a great text to use as a mentor text in how to write about the past. It is also written very engagingly. O'Quinn obviously did extensive research and uses primary sources as much as possible. I learned quite a bit about Beatrix Potter through reading this. I had no idea she was the first person to figure out the life cycle of fungi, or how extensive her knowledge of mycology was, or that she had illustrations published in nature and scientific texts as well as her fiction books for children. I liked all the photos included, and it felt like it was the perfect length.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Some deaths from natural causes and illnesses mentioned. It tactfully discusses Beatrix's brother's struggles with alcohol.

[Melati Lum · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I remember having a favourite Peter Rabbit mug when I was a child, I couldn't say I am overly familiar with Beatrix Potter's stories. Of course, I know of the stories, and probably read some of them, it's just that it was so long ago and I can't really remember engaging with them all that much. So, when I was asked to review this middle-grade book I was only mildly curious and wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy it. Well, it didn't take long until I found myself quite engrossed in Ms Potter's life and I kept turning the pages in one sitting for longer than expected! I was interested to learn about Ms Potter's relationship with her parents, her scientific discoveries, and her love of nature and animals. It was inspiring to read of her efforts in getting her work published, including her initial success in self-publishing. She was a woman who was courageous enough to step outside of what was expected of her at the time and I enjoyed the way the author wrote Ms Potter's story in an entertaining and delightful manner for middle-graders. This was an informative non-fiction read and lovely tribute to Ms Potter for the next generation.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Beatrix Potter is the author of the beloved Peter Rabbit, but she has a lot more to her life and story than that as well. This new biography geared towards ages 8 and up details many parts of her fascinating life along with photographs and historical details. Pick this book up to learn which famous author Beatrix was friends with as a child, how her research into fungi and natural sciences made a significant impact, witness her shrewd business decisions and generous philanthropy, discover the environmental impact she had, and experience the tragedies and triumphs of her personal life.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complimentary copy from Independent publishers group for my review. Hardcover with dustcover received.

I like this book geared for elementary students.
Loads of images, most from the life of Beatrix Potter, others that are illustrative of her time in history.

Readers learn not only about her hobbies, successes and failures, but how her time period influenced decisions she needed to make. We are walked through her early childhood and how it differs from life today. I love how occasionally the author would point out the differences in Potter's life and the lives of others, or how history influenced her decisions.

Well done book by Amy O'Quinn.

[Renee Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becoming Beatrix: The Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit by Amy M. O'Quinn is an easy read with a great deal of information about Beatrix Potter, the creator of Peter Rabbit and other well-known children’s books. I checked out this book from the library as part of the Summer Reading Challenge. I enjoyed learning about Beatrix and the many things she did in addition to creating her lovable characters that are still cherished today.

[Stasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good, but I don't understand why the author kept choosing to throw in ' well, this was part of her upbringing, this is how Victorian children were raised...' multiple times, like it was a very bad thing. Obviously, that Victorian upbringing wasn't all bad, because Beatrix made quite a name for herself!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovingly written little biography on the life of beloved author, Beatrix Potter. I learned so much about her and that she was so much more than an author. It is a wonderful read and suitable for any reader. It includes lots of photos and many of her illustrations. This is a very lovely book.

[Becky Bialaszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great autobiography of Beatrix Potter. I visited the Lake District last year and went to Hill Top Farm.
I felt like I was back there as I read this book. It was wonderful to find out even more details about the amazing person Beatrix was.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get for older readers and adults.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story of a remarkable woman with many talents. If I ever get to England, I want to go to the museum in London, and definitely Hill Top Farm and Castle Cottage!

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a fun, quick read. Beatrix Potter had a fascinating life. I look forward to reading more about her and to be inspired by her love of nature.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid biography of the scientist and author. Long enough for pertinent information and some anecdotes without getting bogged down in the minutiae of farming.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that Beatrix Potter was a mycologist and naturalist. I wish this middle school biography included more of her artwork.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatrix Potter was an extremely smart, kind, and talented person. This was a wonderful little book. I wish there were more images of her art work in it.

[Julie Bump · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent overview of the life of Beatrix Potter. Not super long but gave enough detail for one to learn who the real Beatrix was. Pictures throughout the book help you gain a real sense of her life and the time period. I appreciated the inclusion of details about the people who were import to Beatrix.