Beatrix Potter is really a badass. Seriously, she is one of those women who acted in ways that were ahead of her time. This is a delightful picture book about the history of Peter Rabbit, of how Beatrix wanted her books to be read by ALL so she wanted low costs...of how Beatrix wanted to protect the Lake District countryside......maybe one day I will get to see it. ( )

Though many have written about Beatrix Potter for both adults and children, Marshall and Urbinati's lovely picture book adds lesser-known facts about her life and talents. For example, I wasn't aware that her father was an amateur photographer and Beatrix helped him and was inspired by other artists they visited. Saving the Countryside also teaches children that Beatrix was a conservationist as well as an author/illustrator. She bought farms and woodlands so they wouldn't be developed and raised unique breeds of farm animals such as Herdwick sheep. As Linda emphasizes, Beatrix did important things despite the fact that women were often overlooked in her time. She showed people that women were as smart, courageous, and savvy as men, and her legacy lives on to this day. Ilaria's soft, bold illustrations highlight Beatrix's enthusiasm and determination as well as the beauty of the countryside. Includes a delightful Author's Note about her research and travels to Beatrix's countryside and a list of sources. I am inspired to read the biography that Linda recommends: "Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature" by Linda Lear as well as a fictionalized Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Wittig Albert. ( )