The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter (1902)
1 chapters · 1 chapter quizzes · 22 vocabulary words
📖 Read the full book onlineOpen the Interactive Guide →About This Book
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a short story about a little rabbit who does not listen to his mother. Peter lives in a snug home under the root of a very big fir tree with his mother and his three sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail. Their home is warm and safe, and just beyond it lie green fields, a shady lane, and one place they must never go. One morning Mrs. Rabbit gets ready to walk to the village. Before she leaves, she tells her four little rabbits where they may play. They may run in the fields or go down the lane, but they must stay out of Mr. McGregor's garden. Mr. McGregor grows rows and rows of vegetables, and he does not want rabbits nibbling in them. Peter's three sisters are good little bunnies who do exactly as they are told. Peter is different. He is curious and quick, and the garden he is not allowed to enter is the very place he most wants to see. This little book follows what happens when a small rabbit decides to find out for himself.
This is one of the first stories many children ever fall in love with, and it is perfect for young readers who are just beginning to follow a story on their own. It is short, exciting, and easy to picture, with a clear beginning, middle, and end that helps children learn how stories work. Peter feels real to first graders because they know exactly what it is like to want something they have been told not to do, and the story gently shows that choices lead to consequences without ever being preachy.
Pre-Reading Discussion Questions
- Has a grown-up ever told you not to do something? How did it feel?
- What do you think makes a place safe, and what makes a place risky?
- Look at the cover. What do you think this rabbit is like?
- Why do you think a rabbit might want to sneak into a vegetable garden?
- What do you do when you feel curious about something you are not supposed to touch?
- What does it mean to be a 'good listener' at home or at school?
Themes & Big Ideas to Track
- Listening and not listening: notice what happens when a rule is followed and when it is broken.
- Choices and what comes next: watch how one small decision leads to the next thing that happens.
- Curiosity: pay attention to how wanting to know more can lead Peter into new places.
- Home and safety: think about why home feels different from the garden.
- Family: notice how Peter and his sisters act differently from one another.
- Feelings: watch for moments when Peter feels excited, scared, tired, or sorry.
Chapter-by-Chapter Study Guide
Chapter 1
Before you read — think about:
- Who lives in Peter's family, and where do you think a rabbit family would make its home?
- What is one rule your family has to keep you safe?
- What kinds of food do you think a rabbit would love to find in a garden?
- How do you feel when you are somewhere you are not supposed to be?
- What might a small animal do if a person suddenly saw him and shouted?
Watch for these while reading:
- The rule Mrs. Rabbit gives her children before she goes out.
- How Peter's three sisters spend their morning, and how Peter spends his.
- The blue jacket with brass buttons and the shoes Peter wears at the start.
- The garden tools Mr. McGregor picks up, and what he does with each one.
- The other animals Peter meets while he is lost, and whether any of them help him.
Vocabulary to know:
mischief (noun) — playful behavior that causes trouble; naughty (adjective) — behaving badly and not doing as you are told; sand-bank (noun) — a small hill of sandy soil, where the rabbit family dug their home; currant (noun) — a tiny dried berry baked into buns and cakes; squeezed (verb) — pushed through a very tight space; parsley (noun) — a leafy green herb that rabbits nibble to settle a sore tummy; gooseberry (noun) — a small round green berry that grows on a prickly bush; rake (noun) — a garden tool with a long handle and metal teeth; sieve (noun) — a wide bowl-shaped tool full of tiny holes, used for sifting; implored (verb) — begged someone to do something; exert (verb) — to make a strong effort and use all your strength; wriggled (verb) — twisted and squirmed the body to get free; dreadfully (adverb) — very greatly; terribly; trembling (verb) — shaking a little because of fear or cold; presently (adverb) — soon afterward; in a little while; lippity (adverb) — a made-up word the author invented for the soft, slow hopping of a tired rabbit; puzzled (adjective) — confused and unsure what to do next; wheelbarrow (noun) — a small cart with one wheel and two handles, used in a garden; hoe (noun) — a garden tool with a flat blade, used to dig up weeds; scare-crow (noun) — a figure set up in a garden to frighten birds away; fortnight (noun) — two weeks; camomile (noun) — a small daisy-like plant used to make a calming tea (also spelled chamomile).
About the Author
Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) was an English writer and artist who loved animals all her life. As a girl she kept many pets, including rabbits, and she spent hours drawing them and studying nature. She first made up Peter Rabbit in a picture letter she wrote to cheer up a sick little boy she knew, and years later she turned that letter into a book, painting all the pictures herself. When she grew older she bought farms in the English countryside and worked to protect the land she loved.
This story was first published more than one hundred years ago, in 1902, in England. Beatrix Potter had it made small on purpose, so that little hands could hold it easily, and she filled it with her own soft watercolor paintings. It belongs to a very old storytelling tradition in which animals talk, wear clothes, and act like people in order to teach a gentle lesson. Peter Rabbit became so beloved that it has stayed in print ever since and has been read to children all over the world.