Pitter, patter, Potter on
Helen Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866, in Kensington, London, U.K. Her brother, Walter Bertram, was six years younger than her. Both children loved to draw and paint, and spent hours making sketches of their many pets, which included lizards, snakes and bats.
Her story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was a picture letter she had sent to one of her governesses, Annie Moore’s son, Noel. She sent this to several publishers but was rejected by everyone. So, in 1901, she decided to publish it herself. She did an initial print run of 250 copies meant only for family and friends. The book was an instant success. Frederick Warne & Co., who had initially turned her down, reconsidered its decision, provided she did her illustrations in colour.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Potter’s stories almost always feature fluffy, furry animals and their adventures. Here are a few of the characters that feature in her books. Can you match their names with the characters?