Jugami Storybooks

Storybooks · Grades K–2

The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit

A rude rabbit, a stolen carrot, and a very big surprise! A story by Beatrix Potter, from her 1906 picture book.

A brown rabbit with long whiskers sits on a wooden bench holding a carrot. Trees stand behind him, and a green hat with a feather lies in the corner.

🥕 The story in brief

A fierce bad rabbit wants a gentle rabbit's carrot. He does not say please. He just grabs it, and the gentle rabbit hides in a hole, feeling sad.

Then a man in a green hat creeps up, and there is a loud BANG! The bad rabbit runs off as fast as he can, and the gentle rabbit sees him go by without his tail or whiskers.

📖 The story, part by part

Tap “Read it to me” to listen, or read each part with a grown-up. The green boxes show Beatrix Potter's own words.

  1. Part 1

    A fierce bad rabbit

    Here is a rabbit who is not very nice. He is fierce and bad!

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “THIS is a fierce bad Rabbit; look at his savage whiskers, and his claws and his turned-up tail.”

    Look at his long whiskers. Look at his tail. Remember them!

  2. Part 2

    A nice gentle rabbit

    Here is a different rabbit. This one is kind and polite.

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “THIS is a nice gentle Rabbit. His mother has given him a carrot.”

  3. Part 3

    No please!

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “THE bad Rabbit would like some carrot.”

    Does he ask nicely? No, he does not!

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “HE doesn't say ‘Please.’ He takes it!”

  4. Part 4

    Hiding in a hole

    The bad rabbit is rough with the good rabbit, too.

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “THE good Rabbit creeps away, and hides in a hole. It feels sad.”

    The bad rabbit sits on the bench with the carrot that is not his.

  5. Part 5

    A man in a hat

    Along comes a man in a green hat, out hunting.

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “HE sees something sitting on a bench. He thinks it is a very funny bird!”

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “HE comes creeping up behind the trees.”

  6. BANG!
    Part 6

    BANG!

    Then there is a great big noise. BANG!

    The bad rabbit gets the fright of his life. He jumps off the bench and runs away as fast as he can. When the man rushes up, there is no rabbit on the bench at all.

  7. Part 7

    Without any tail

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “THE good Rabbit peeps out of its hole,”

    Beatrix Potter wrote: “AND it sees the bad Rabbit tearing past—without any tail or whiskers!”

    The bad rabbit has lost his whiskers and most of his tail. Being rude did not end well for him. Next time, perhaps he will say “Please”!

💛 Big idea

Ask nicely, and don't grab. The bad rabbit took what was not his, and being rude did not end well for him. Saying “please” is always better!

🐇 Meet the characters

🥕 What happened?

What a day for two little rabbits! Look at each picture, read the clue, and tap the right answer.

For grown-ups: every clue comes from Beatrix Potter's story. Tap 🔈 to hear each one.

1. Who gave the gentle rabbit his carrot?

2. Where did the bad rabbit sit?

3. Where did the good rabbit hide?

4. Where did the man come creeping up?

5. What noise made the bad rabbit run?

6. What did the bad rabbit lose?

Score: 0 of 6

🔤 New words

🐰 The Fierce Bad Rabbit quiz

How much do you remember? Tap the right answer for each question.

For grown-ups: each question has a 🔈 button so pre-readers can hear it. Works with a keyboard too (Tab to move, Enter to choose).

1. Was the bad rabbit polite?

2. How did the good rabbit feel in the hole?

3. What did the man think the rabbit was?

4. Who grabbed the carrot?

5. What did the man wear?

6. What is the lesson of the story?

Score: 0 of 6

💬 Let's talk about it

There are no wrong answers. Talk with a grown-up or a friend.

✏️ About Beatrix Potter and her book