Happy Birthday, Beatrix Potter!

The much beloved author and artist, Beatrix Potter, was born on July 28, 1866, in London. She grew up loving to explore animals and nature with her brother, Bertram, in the countryside. Beatrix had many animal friends including two rabbits, Peter and Benjamin! She studied at the National Art Training School and combined all her talents and passions to create the Peter Rabbit series, writing and illustrating more than 20 children's books. She also studied and illustrated fungi and other living specimens in the botanical world. She later became a sheep farmer and a conservationist with her husband and left most of her land to the National Trust.

Let's celebrate Beatrix Potter's birthday this week by reading some of her books, listening to her stories on YouTube, watching the recent movie, painting with water colors, and a scavenger hunt and other activities through her books. And, for goodness sake, let your child help you make some birthday cupcakes for Beatrix!

Beatrix Potter's books introduces us to so many lovable characters. Of, course there is Peter Rabbit and his siblings, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail and his friend, Benjamin Bunny; Mr. Jeremy Fisher, the fishing frog; Squirrel Nutkin and Old Brown Owl; Miss Moppet the kitten; Mrs. Tittlemouse; and Jemima Puddle-Duck, the great egg nester. Hopefully you can share a few favorites with your children. My daughter's favorite seemed to be Jemima Puddle-Duck with her perseverance and mothering instincts, and my son's favorite was definitely Benjamin Bunny since they shared a name and because Benjamin Bunny shared a great adventure with his good friend, Peter!
                                             

Here are a few activities you can do while reading any of the books:

• Count all the different animals in each book. For example, in The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, there are 7 different rabbits, 3 birds, and a cat. Ask which animal there were the most of, the least, and add them together with older preschoolers.
• Create a scavenger hunt of 5 - 10 items for your child to find as you read the book or watch it on YouTube. You will need to look through the book first and list the items or draw simple pictures of what your children will be hunting for.  For The Tale of Peter Rabbit, children could find a blue coat, a basket, a gate, a bird, a watering can, a mouse, a cat, goldfish.  
• Look and listen for all the vegetables. Talk about their colors and shapes.
• During the story, let your child share what the problem is and predict how the character could solve it. They could actually create numerous scenarios as to how it could end. 
• Talk about each animal and human character and let your child share what they thought of it. For instance, they probably won't think Mr. McGregor is very nice.
• Point out how sometimes the characters change during the story; for example Peter may seem naughty, but then is sorry.
• Have children point out certain letters.... like all the P's if that is a letter they know or maybe the first letter of their name.
• Look at the beautiful, intricate illustrations Beatrix Potter is known for and talk about colors and lines and what is in each scene. 
• Very verbal children may want to create a short poem about the story.

Get out those watercolors and let your kids paint! You can help them draw a bunny by thinking of circles for everything but the ears which they can draw or paint by thinking about triangles. Speaking of carrots, they are triangles, too, with free flowing leaves coming out the top. They can paint flowers or whatever they are inspired to do after reading Beatrix Potter and seeing her beautiful illustrations. Be sure to display their masterpieces - it means the world to them!

For a tactile activity, put some garden dirt in a box lid or a cake pan and let your child practice "writing" with his or her finger letters and numbers and sight words if they are at that level.

Get a pot and some soil and some carrot seeds and let your children plant. Carrots still have time to sprout and grow. And, they grow quick enough that they are fun to watch. Kids could even measure the growth every week.

Peter Rabbit, the movie, which was released in 2018, was a beautiful mix of real humans and animation. The animals look amazingly real which makes you just want to squeeze that lovable Peter.  When it is hot outside and everyone needs downtime or a family movie night, I highly recommend watching this movie together. You will love it!

Here are some YouTube stories to listen to aloud and watch:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny