July 28th: The Day Beatrix Potter was Born

Beatrix Potter, author of children's book The Tales of Peter Rabbit, was born today. Her family background and personal life reflect the stories she wrote. If you aren't familiar with Peter Rabbit, then get familiar! Potter's collection of stories about a family of rabbits and their goings-on are, in my mind, essential entertainment for a child. 

   This may be because a lot of the stories take place in the countryside, namely the English Lake District landscape, which is near where I am from. When we were out on family walks when I was little I always used to look out for Peter Rabbit and his friends, and the nasty farmer called Mr McGregor who made rabbit pie! This may sound a bit silly, but this is probably exactly what Beatrix Potter was hoping for. Her family loved the outdoors and natural world, and often holidayed to the Lake District in the North of England, so she created her fictional imaginative world in this setting for children to explore. Maybe Potter is a very English author and isn't quite as famous as other Potters more recently; but her fun, adventurous tales of the natural environment and principally Peter Rabbit are very much loved, and I hope her stories don't die out.