Beatrix Potter comes alive!

By Shiroma Benaragama

The British Council Library organised a series of activities throughout the month of August marking the 150th birthday of the beloved children’s novelist Beatrix Potter, which fell on July 28.

A storyteller began the commemoration day by introducing two characters in a novel with the aid of pictures. Next was the fun activity of colouring sketches of the characters. Outlines were handed out and the boys coloured a mouse while the girls coloured a kitten. The younger children quickly filled theirs with vibrant shades, bringing life to the pictures in a way only a child’s imagination could.

The pictures were later fashioned into headbands, and the kids had great fun looking like a band of colourful little soldiers. The older bunch made masks; they coloured cat or mouse faces which were taped onto sticks and voila! They had a new face they could hold in front of their own. They were so keen that they had time to make headbands too.

A DVD screening as well as storytelling sessions were held throughout the month where the little ones had lots of creative fun especially at the ‘Draw your favourite character’ Art Competition held on August 20. The kids were encouraged to come up with their own rendition of Potter’s beloved characters, and it was a very amusing and productive task. Programmes such as this ensured that the spirit of great writers live on in young minds.