Six sleepy bunnies, a big sack, and a brave little mouse! A story by Beatrix Potter, from her 1909 picture book.
🐰 The story in brief
Benjamin Bunny and Flopsy have six little rabbits, called the Flopsy Bunnies. One day the bunnies eat so many lettuces from Mr. McGregor's rubbish heap that they fall fast asleep.
Mr. McGregor finds them and pops all six into his sack! But Thomasina Tittlemouse nibbles a hole in the sack, and the bunnies get out. Their mother and father fill the sack with old vegetables instead, so Mr. McGregor gets a big surprise.
📖 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.
Part 1
The Flopsy Bunnies
Beatrix Potter wrote: “When Benjamin Bunny grew up, he married his Cousin Flopsy. They had a large family, and they were very improvident and cheerful.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “I do not remember the separate names of their children; they were generally called the “Flopsy Bunnies.””
There were six little Flopsy Bunnies.
Part 2
Too much lettuce
One day the Flopsy Bunnies found lots of old lettuces on Mr. McGregor's rubbish heap.
Beatrix Potter wrote: “The Flopsy Bunnies simply stuffed lettuces. By degrees, one after another, they were overcome with slumber, and lay down in the mown grass.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Benjamin was not so much overcome as his children. Before going to sleep he was sufficiently wide awake to put a paper bag over his head to keep off the flies.”
Part 3
A little old mouse
Beatrix Potter wrote: “The little Flopsy Bunnies slept delightfully in the warm sun. From the lawn beyond the garden came the distant clacketty sound of the mowing machine. The bluebottles buzzed about the wall, and a little old mouse picked over the rubbish among the jam pots.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “(I can tell you her name, she was called Thomasina Tittlemouse, a woodmouse with a long tail.)”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “She rustled across the paper bag, and awakened Benjamin Bunny.”
Part 4
A shower of grass
Beatrix Potter wrote: “While she and Benjamin were talking, close under the wall, they heard a heavy tread above their heads; and suddenly Mr. McGregor emptied out a sackful of lawn mowings right upon the top of the sleeping Flopsy Bunnies! Benjamin shrank down under his paper bag. The mouse hid in a jam pot.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “The little rabbits smiled sweetly in their sleep under the shower of grass; they did not awake because the lettuces had been so soporific.”
Part 5
Six leetle rabbits
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Mr. McGregor looked down after emptying his sack. He saw some funny little brown tips of ears sticking up through the lawn mowings. He stared at them for some time.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Presently a fly settled on one of them and it moved.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: ““One, two, three, four! five! six leetle rabbits!” said he as he dropped them into his sack. The Flopsy Bunnies dreamt that their mother was turning them over in bed. They stirred a little in their sleep, but still they did not wake up.”
“Leetle” is how Mr. McGregor says “little.”
Part 6
A hole in the sack
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Mr. McGregor tied up the sack and left it on the wall.”
Then their mother, Flopsy, came across the field. Mrs. Tittlemouse and Benjamin told her what had happened.
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Benjamin and Flopsy were in despair, they could not undo the string.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “But Mrs. Tittlemouse was a resourceful person. She nibbled a hole in the bottom corner of the sack.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “The little rabbits were pulled out and pinched to wake them.”
Part 7
Marrows and turnips
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Their parents stuffed the empty sack with three rotten vegetable marrows, an old blacking-brush and two decayed turnips.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Then they all hid under a bush and watched for Mr. McGregor.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Mr. McGregor came back and picked up the sack, and carried it off.”
At home, Mr. McGregor told Mrs. McGregor he had six rabbits in his sack.
Part 8
No rabbits after all!
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Mrs. McGregor untied the sack and put her hand inside.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “When she felt the vegetables she became very very angry. She said that Mr. McGregor had “done it a purpose.””
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Then Benjamin and Flopsy thought that it was time to go home.”
Beatrix Potter wrote: “But next Christmas Thomasina Tittlemouse got a present of enough rabbit-wool to make herself a cloak and a hood, and a handsome muff and a pair of warm mittens.”
💛 Big idea
Even a small helper can make a big difference. Benjamin and Flopsy could not undo the string, but tiny Mrs. Tittlemouse thought of a clever way to help. When we work together and share ideas, we can fix big problems.
🐰 Meet the characters
Benjamin Bunny
Peter Rabbit's cousin, all grown up. He is the Flopsy Bunnies' father, and he naps with a paper bag on his head.
Flopsy
Peter Rabbit's sister and Benjamin's wife. She is the Flopsy Bunnies' mother.
The Flopsy Bunnies
Six little rabbits who love lettuce. They eat so much that they fall fast asleep!
Thomasina Tittlemouse
A little woodmouse with a long tail. She is small, but she has a very good idea.
Mr. McGregor
The gardener. He wants to catch the rabbits in his sack.
🥬 What happened?
The Flopsy Bunnies had a very lucky escape! 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. What made the Flopsy Bunnies so sleepy?
2. What did Benjamin put over his head?
3. What did Mr. McGregor put the bunnies into?
4. How did Mrs. Tittlemouse help the bunnies?
5. What went into the sack instead of the bunnies?
6. What did Thomasina Tittlemouse get at Christmas?
Score: 0 of 6
🔤 New words
Tap 🔈 to hear a word and what it means.
soporific
Something that makes you sleepy. Lots of lettuce is soporific for rabbits!
rubbish heap
A pile of things that have been thrown away. The bunnies find lettuces there.
slumber
Sleep. The bunnies were overcome with slumber.
sack
A big, strong bag made of rough cloth. Mr. McGregor puts the bunnies in his sack.
resourceful
Good at finding a clever way to fix a problem. Mrs. Tittlemouse is resourceful.
mittens
Warm gloves that keep your fingers together, with a space for your thumb.
🐇 The Flopsy Bunnies 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. Who are the Flopsy Bunnies' mother and father?
2. How many little Flopsy Bunnies were there?
3. Where did the bunnies find the lettuces?
4. Why didn't the bunnies wake up under the grass?
5. Where did the mouse hide?
6. Why was Mrs. McGregor angry?
Score: 0 of 6
💬 Let's talk about it
There are no wrong answers. Talk with a grown-up or a friend.
Why do you think the bunnies fell asleep?
How do you think Benjamin and Flopsy felt when they saw the sack?
Mrs. Tittlemouse is very small. How did she help?
Can you count the six little Flopsy Bunnies on your fingers?
What would you put in the sack to trick Mr. McGregor?