Through she's universally known as the creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter did so much more. This is the true story about how she helped save the English countryside! Growing up in London, Beatrix Potter felt the restraints of Victorian times. Girls didn't go to school and weren't expected to work. But she longed to do something important, something that truly mattered. As Beatrix spent her summers in the country and found inspiration in nature, it was through this passion that her creativity flourished. There, she crafted The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She would eventually move to the countryside full-time, but developers sought to change the land. To save it, Beatrix used the money from the success of her books and bought acres and acres of land and farms to prevent the development of the countryside that both she and Peter Rabbit so cherished. Because of her efforts, it's been preserved just as she left it.
Author
I have always loved words. My parents said I spoke in full sentences before I was a year old. They also said I didn't walk until I was two. I was still a baby when I saw a TV commercial about a vacuum cleaner and its expandable bag. That night, my parents begged me to eat "just one more bite." I refused. Using a phrase I'd learned from the vacuum cleaner commercial, I explained, "My stomach is fully expanded." My parents laughed...and I was saved from having to eat that dreadful "one more bite." My love of words extended to foreign languages. I was one of those kids who loved school. I loved Hebrew school, too. Learning Hebrew taught me that words can be composed of roots and that those roots can change, often in predictable ways. I noticed some of the rules I'd learned in Hebrew applied to English, too. I also love word games, puzzles, and etymology, learning about the origins of words. Some of my other favorite things include being outside, exploring, and being around animals. When I was a child, I wanted a horse. I didn't get one. But when I grew up, my husband and I moved to a farm. That's where we raised our four children...and sheep, chickens, and rabbits. It's also where some of my stories are based. I also love teaching and have taught all ages, from babies through college. I've taught parents, too. When I write stories, I combine so many of the things I love. I'm always learning and exploring...and having a fabulous time!
