Saving the Countryside, The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit

Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall

Pictures by Ilaria Urbinati

Little Bee Books; January 28, 2020

Happy Book Birthday to Saving the Countryside, The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit by Linda Elovitz Marshall!

Thanks to Little Bee Books for sending me a review copy.

Friends, this book is gorgeous! Being a bit of a Beatrix Potter fan, England fan, and general nature and caring for the planet fan, this book hits the trifecta for matching all three interests.

Well written, beautifully illustrated, and chock full of Beatrix Potter, I recommend grabbing yourself a copy.

Why I Love This Book:

~ Well written and interesting

~ Gorgeous and colorful illustrations

~ I learned so much about Beatrix and England and Peter Rabbit-perfect!

~ The backmatter fills in additional information

~ The setting, the history, and the tone of the times were spot on

~ Great read! This is a book I will reread over and over. It’s like a little trip to England without leaving my RV.

~ Gardens. I adore gardens. English gardens. Just ask my husband and son, who were in trouble more often than not when they tried to “tidy up” the edges of my flower beds.

Congratulations to Linda Elovitz Marshall, Ilaria Urbinati, and Little Bee Books for a job well done!

Amazon Blurb:

“Fans of Beatrix Potter will delight in this tribute to her dedication and talent, encapsulating a legacy that reaches far beyond the pages of her beloved books.”-Foreword Reviews in a STARRED REVIEW

“Empowering and fresh.”-School Library Journal

“The life of the British picture-book author and illustrator makes a serendipitous subject for an engaging and attractive picture book…A well-told tale that makes the life story of the renowned author accessible to children.”-Kirkus Reviews 

“Perhaps Peter Rabbit needs no introduction, but even children who know Beatrix Potter’s name probably know little about her. This appealing picture book fills that gap…. Recommended for young Beatrix Potter fans.”-Booklist

“In forthright language, this picture book biography recounts her boundary-breaking life as she grows from a nature-loving child with a menagerie of pets…into a successful artist and canny entrepreneur. An attractive introduction to an iconic creator.”-Publisher’s Weekly

“An exceptionally accurate portrait of Beatrix Potter told with humor and surprise. Beautifully done.” Linda Lear, author of Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature

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.

This beautiful picture book shines a light on Beatrix Potter’s lesser-known history and her desire to do something for the greater good.