Reading Obsession: Beatrix Potter

Book and movie recommendations for Beatrix Potter Fans

Photo by Gary Bendig on Unsplash

I did not read Beatrix Potter books when I was a child and, although my daughter had the books, we didn’t spend much time reading them. Rather, my obsession with Beatrix Potter began recently when I watched the movie, Miss Potter, for the third time.

It is one of my favorite movies. It’s a bittersweet love story with landscapes that make me want to pack my bags and move to England and interior sets that I could look at for hours. Even the portfolio that Beatrix Potter carries to the publisher, handmade and covered in scraps of floral printed fabric and ribbons that untie to reveal her collection of water colored bunnies wearing blue jackets, makes my heart beat faster.

But what got my attention this time was the dollhouse in Beatrix’s art studio because I have recently fallen down the rabbit hole (so to speak) of miniatures and am currently building and designing my own dollhouse.

A miniature scene I set-up on my desk

The day after watching the movie, inspired by Miss Potter, and wanting to know about her, I went digging around YouTube, and found a wonderful, short documentary by Tasmin Bassett Art about the real dollhouses owned by Beatrix, that were the inspiration of the book, The Tale of Two Bad Mice. I learned about the charming story of how Beatrix’s publisher/secret fiancé, was building a dollhouse for his niece and that the house was the inspiration for the story. Even more touching, he would go to toy shops and bring miniature food and dolls to Beatrix to use as models for her illustrations for the book.

Later, she got a dollhouse for herself that resembled the dollhouse of her publisher’s niece and it can be found at her home, Hilltop Farm. (I’m already planning my trip there!)

Of course, all this led me down a rabbit hole (so to speak) of all things Beatrix Potter. If you are similarly inclined to become obsessed with an author or subject, I thought I would make a little deep dive checklist up for you. This is a similar idea to my Syllabus Series, but focuses more on one small topic rather than a large one such as Children’s Literature.

Included in the list are all the things I’ve already mentioned as well as some additional books such as an embroidery book and the mystery book series by Susan Wittig Albert, called The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. And yes, the animals talk to one another in it.

This is a baby bunny who lived in our yard last Spring. Her name was Teacup. We get a family of wild bunnies who settle in every year for the Spring/Summer season.

Paid subscribers can download the list below.