“Peter Rabbit Had It Coming.” That was the title I gave to a chapter about garden pest control in a book I wrote many years ago. In fact, even as a child I rooted for Peter’s adversary, Mr. McGregor.

We’re all familiar with “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter. Peter Rabbit ventures into Mr. McGregor’s garden despite explicitly being told not to by his mother. His sisters, Mopsy, Flopsy ...

I recently drew a storm of condemnation from Facebook members when I reacted to a much-delayed obituary in the New York Times for the great children’s author Beatrix Potter. Potter died on Dec. 22, ...