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. |