Beatrix Potter’s world of little animals and their adventures was the same one that fascinated her as a child.  Born in London in 1866 into a well-to-do family, her childhood was intensely lonely.  There was little warmth expressed by her parents and relatives and no friendships with other children, except her brother Bertram.  But her isolation did not cause young Beatrix to retreat into herself, perhaps because on hlidays in Scotland, she and Bertram were able to explore the mysteries and eelights of local farms, woods, and fields.  They colleted blants, animals and insects; unknown to their parents, they brought them home so they could draw and paint them.

         Beatrix Potter’s love of nature, coupled with a creative imagination, enabled her to produce some of the most beloved stories in literature.  But the stories are not sentimental ones of cute and precious little animals.  They are lively tales of determined little creatures who have places to go and things to do.  Her characters possess the same toughness that she had an acceptance of how things must be.  In her stories, mice are always on the lookout for cats and owls; rabbits must learn to outsmart irritable gardeners whose wives make excellent rabbit pies; and big fish are always ready to have little frogs for dinner.  Her stories are true to life and to the laws of nature, and this is one reason why they have had universal appeal for so many years.

         The surpassing reason for their popularity, however, are the rollicking, rousing humor and the wonderful plots, with animal characters of independence and daring, dramas that make every day a new adventure.  Not least in appeal are the delicate intricate drawings with their warm colors and affectionate tone.

         This information was copied from the forward of  “The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter With Her Original Illustrations”.

List of books

A HAPPY PAIR 1890

THE TAIL OF PETER RABBIT 1900

THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER  1902

THE TALE OF SQUIRREL NUTKIN  1903

THE TAYLOR OF GLOUCHESTER 1903

THE TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY  1904

THE TALE OF TWO BAD MICE  1904

THE TALE OF MRS. TIGGY-WINKLE  1905

THE PIE AND THE PATTY-PAN  1905

THE TALE OF MR. JEREMY FISHER  1906

THE STORY OF A FIERCE BAD RABBIT  1906

THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET  1906

THE TALE OF TOM KITTEN  1907

THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK  1908

THE ROLY-POLY PUDDING  1908

THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES  1909

THE TALE OF MRS. TITTLEMOUSE  1910

THE TALE OF TIMMY TIPTOES  1911

THE TALE OF MR. TOD  1912

THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND  1913

THE TALE OF GINGER AND PICKLES  1909

PETER RABBIT’S PAINTING BOOK 1911

JOHNNY TOWNMOUSE  1914

TOM KITTEN’S PAINTING BOOK 1917

APPLEY DAPPLY’S NURSERY RHYMES  1917

THE TALE OF JOHNNY TOWN-MOUSE  1918

CECIL PARSLEY’S NURSERY RHYMES  1922

JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK’S PAINTING BOOK  1925

PETER RABBIT’S ALMANAC 1929

THE FAIRY CARAVAN  1929

THE TALE OF LITTLE PG ROBINSON 1930

SISTER ANNE 1932

WAG – BY – WALL  1944

THE TALE OF THE FAITHFUL DOVE  1955

THE ART OF BEATRIX POTTER 1955

THE JOURNAL OF BEATRIX POTTER 1881 – 1897

LETTERS TO CHILDREN  1967

THE SLY OLD CAT 1971

A HISTORY OF THE WRITINGS OF BEATRIX POTTER  1971

THE TALE OF TUPPENNY  1973

BEATRIX POTTER’S BIRTHDAY BOOK  1974

DEAR IVY, DEAR JUNE  1977

BEATRIX POTTER’S AMERICANS  1982

YOURS AFFECTIONALTELY, PETER RABBIT  1983

BEATRIX POTTER’S NURSERY RHYME BOOK  1984

BEATRIX POTTER’S LETTERS  1989

Illustrator Beatrix Potter

http://www.peterrabbit.com/beatrixpotter/