Miss Potter (the movie)

If you're interested in a real story, a story about a real woman who lived 100 years ago in London and in the Lake District of England, and turned her love of nature and art into a livelihood, then you just may like the movie I just recently watched tonight, snuggled up next to Hubs. It's called Miss Potter, and it is a movie about her early years, both as a girl and as a young woman finding her way in life. At age 30 she was still unwed -- a disgrace -- and yet she was happily going about doing the things she loved -- sketching, drawing, painting and writing children's stories about the animals she loved. There comes a day when she tries to get one of her stories published and the story goes ever forward and upward from there.



The original Rabbit Family as illustrated by Beatrix Potter.

I have always been a big fan of Beatrix Potter. I've read her stories to my own children as they've grown up. They are no stranger to Peter Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter, nor are they estranged to Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten or Jemima Puddle Duck. If you have Little People in your life, I encourage you to buy them the real Beatrix Potter books, and then read them aloud to them, over and over again. (they will ask you to!) They will love and adore you for it. The books are written in proper English prose that trickles like a happy brook over the tongue. It is not twaddle. The young child will eagerly understand what the friendly sparrows meant when they "implored him (Peter) to exert himself," when he was caught in a gooseberry net by the buttons of his coat in Mr. McGregors garden. Whatever you do, whether you are young or old, do not miss Beatrix Potter's dear stories, and I also encourage you to rent the movie, Miss Potter and learn a snippet about her own life. There is a Christmas scene in the movie that made my heart skip and although it is not a Christmas Movie, it adds a little sparkle, charm and blessing to the season.

Addendum:
If the boxed set of 23 Beatrix Potter books is FAR to expensive for your budget, you can also buy the Complete Tales all in one book for a more modest price. Just don't miss them!