The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 12

12 Kdkbrtio Saturday, April 11, 1992 and their 1992 by Universal Press Syndicate By BETTY DEBNAM tram Tfw Mini by Attty tM9 Unlvtfut Prttt The Tale of BEATRIX POTTER Science illustrator Her diary More than 18 million copies of'TheTateof Peter Rabbit" have been sold. It has been translated Into 16 languages. In 1893, nearly 100 years ago, Beatrix Potter sent a letter to a little boy. Eight years later, she turned the letter into a book. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" has become the most popular children's book of all time.

It was the first of her 23 "little books." All were small so kids could hold them easily. Growing up Beatrix as a girl. Her family was well-to-do, so she did not go to school but was taught at home. Beatrix was born in 1866 in London, England. From age 8, she spent much of her time drawing.

She drew her pets, among which were mice, lizards and rabbits. She also painted landscapes and plants. This boar fish Is one of hundreds of her real- life drawings. Not only did she draw animals in make-believe scenes, but she also drew nature as it truly is. Her attention to detail was so good that she might have become an illustrator for science books.

Country life Beatrix Potter was a very private person. At age 15, she Invented a secret code for her diary. She recorded dally events In It until she was 31. The code was so unusual that It took six years to break. Beatrix In her 30s.

Later life At the age of 47 she married a country lawyer, William Heelis. She became so interested in raising sheep and in country life that she had little time for drawing or writing. She died in 1943 at the age of 77. Because she was so interested in preserving nature, she left a lot of land for a national park. Rabbit tram Mini by dully Mhnim IMJ Rabbit fact-a-roonies are found in almost every part of the world, from, the cold Arctic to the hot desert.

are born in nests made of straw, leaves and other materials mixed with fur the mothers pull from their bodies. born in the wild are left alone by their mothers most of the time. The mothers stay away from the nests in case other animals follow. The mothers go to the nest about once a day to nurse. are different from hares in several ways.

Rabbits are born deaf, blind and hairless. They don't leave the nest for several weeks. Hares are born with fur and with their eyes open. They leave the nest soon after birth. Hares are usually bigger than rabbits, and their legs and ears are longer than rabbits'.

are called bunnies or kits when they are babies. Female rabbits are called does and males are called bucks. have front teeth that never stop growing. The rabbits gnaw and chew all the time to wear them down. Hare Today Beatrix with her sheepdog, Kep.

Beatrix enjoyed family vacations in a part of England with lots of lakes. In 1905 she bought a farm there called Hill Top. Many of her books are set in this area. Today you can find her art on toys, dishes and clothes. Her books have been made into a ballet and an opera.

She didn't talk down to kids. She tried to write and draw perfectly for them. After nearly 100 years, Beatrix Potter is more popular than ever. For help with this Issue, The Mini Page thanks Frederick Warne and Co. and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, whose exhibit "The World of Beatrix Potter" runs through May 4.

The Kokomo Tribune would like to recognize one of our Educational Partners. These partners have made a commitment in support of reading among our youth. 1800 SO. U.S. 31 BYPASS KOKOMO 457-8333 DRIVING for EDUCATION tram TM Mini ftgt by totty Mfcrwm e1M2 Unlvirul Syndleiti Mini Spy Mini Spy and her friends are looking for Easter eggs.

See if you can find: two frogs umbrella dragon word MINI book bread loaf pipe teapot flyswatter pumpkin caterpillar Teacher's Guide For use by teachers and parents at home and at school. For use with issue: Beatrix Potter Main idea: This Easter issue is about Beatrix Potter. The following is a list of activities to be used with this issue. They are listed in order of difficulty, with the easier pro-reader assignments listed first. Ask the children do the following: 1.

Count the number of pictures of famous rabbits. Where hnve you seen each one? Which of the rabbits is your favorite? Why? 'I. Has your teacher read you the book "The Tale of Peter Why do you think it has been so popular for so many years? Have you read any other books by Beatrix Potter? Draw ymirown picture to illustrate "The Tale of Peter Rabbit." 4. What do you think Beatrix Potter would say if she knew how popular "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" is today? Would you like to be an author and illustrator? What skills and work do you think is involved? B. through your newspaper for pictures that remind you of spring and Easter.

Do you have any Easter or Passover plans? 6. Design an Easter card for someone you love. 7. Circle all the numbers. Which is the largest and which is the smallest? Find the following: a number between 10 and 20; a number greater then a year; a year in the last century.

8. In what city was Beatrix Potter born? Find the city on a globe or world map. 9. Look through your newspaper for Easter or Passover activities in your area. (com Thi Mini by Billy IM2 Unlvirnl Pun BEATRIX TRY'N POTTER FIND Words about Beatrix Potter are hidden in the block below.

See if you can find: BEATRIX, POTTER, RABBIT, BOOK, GARDEN, DRAW, PAINT, FARM, LAKE, SHEEP, DIARY, WRITE, CODE, NATURE, LAWYER, BALLET, OPERA LITTLE, VACATION, TAILOR, GREEN. BGAWTA I LORCODEP ERFRBRBGARDENEO AEAIOPERAJLAKET TERTKSCSBRLFHNT RNMELXDHAA I BGAE I LAWYERELBTODTR XPA I NTYELBTORUO PDIARYZPEILKARI VACAT I ONTTEQWEA "Pat the Bunny" Since It was first published more than 50 years ago, more than 5 million copies of "Pat the Bunny" have been sold. The second best-selling children's book with a hard cover is "Pat the Bunny." It is for little kids 2 or 3 years old. One of the things to do In the book Is to pat a cut-out bunny to feel the fur. "Pat the Bunny" was written by Dorothy Kunhardt, who wrote more than 40 children's books.

It was the first "touch and feel" book. It has activities as well as pictures and words. The book invites toddlers to do such things as play peekaboo, smell flowers and look at themselves in a mirror. Three years after this ure was taken, Mrs. Kunhardt wrote "Pat the Bunny" for the baby she Is holding, daughter Edith.

Which of these can you name In the Rabbit Hall of Fame? For thousands of years, rabbits have been the symbol of the joy of new life that begins in the springtime. 4. This rabbit outsmarted all the other animals, especially Brer Fox. The first person to write tales about him was author Joel Chandler Harris. Many people have rewritten them since.

1. This rabbit is very famous, especially in this country, where he will soon be delivering Easter eggs. 2. This hopping rabbit is in a song. It was written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins more than 40 years ago.

They also wrote the popular "Frosty the Snowman." 5. This rabbit was a star in the movie "Bambi." He got his name from something he does when he gets excited. 3. This rabbit is a cartoon character created in the late 1930s. He has starred in more than 160 animated "shorts" or cartoons.

His favorite saying is, "What's up, Doc?" 'L '9 tfuunu b3na 3,1 'z tfuunjj 4J)soy oqj, 6. This rabbit is a great worrier. He checks his watch and fusses that he's "late for a very important date." He is in the Disney film "Alice in Wonderland." The story was based on a book written 127 years ago, in 1865, by English author Lewis Can-oil. 7. This rabbit is in the Disney films based on the Winnie the Pooh books.

These films are based on books written by A.A. Milne in the 1920s..