Ruth K. MacDonald, Professor of English at New Mexico State University and author of Beatrix Potter (1986), observes that the depiction of domestic discord in Timmy Tiptoes is not typical for Potter or for children's literature of the period.
MacDonald observes that the dedication, "For Many Unknown Little Friends, Including Monica", is evidence that Potter's audience for Timmy Tiptoes was not as clearly defined as the audiences for her other books, especially those books composed for very specific children.